Nikola Jovic Says He Expected to Be Traded and Will Stay to Learn From Giannis

His strong July performances for Serbia have boosted confidence as Miami adjusts its roster around the newly acquired Antetokounmpo.

Overview

Jovic told reporters in Las Vegas this week that he thought he might be traded during the Giannis deal but is happy to remain with the Heat and wants to give back to the city and fans.
He said he looks forward to playing with and learning from Giannis Antetokounmpo and praised Giannis’s approach to the game.
Jovic is coming off a down 2024–25 season after signing a four-year, $62.4 million extension, when he averaged 7.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists while shooting 36.6 percent from the field.
He has shown a confidence uptick after scoring 22 and 32 points in Serbia’s European World Cup qualifiers on July 2 and July 6, and he described those outings as a springboard to ‘turn the page.’
Miami is finalizing depth as it integrates Giannis, using Summer League play to evaluate fringe pieces like Trevor Keels and watching contract structures such as Andrew Wiggins’s team-friendly extension years for possible in-season flexibility.