ere in the early NBA season, the Heat have dealt with injuries to major rotation players in just about every game. But through it all, one thing has remained almost certain: Nikola Jovic has been firmly out of the rotation in Miami.
He started one game, back in October in Minnesota. He made one other appearance. Jovic has missed two games because of illness, but he has been back for the last two, but even with a spate of absences—long-term injuries to Tyler Herro and Caleb Martin, shorter-term injuries/rest for Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry—Jovic has not been able to sniff the floor.
That’s both surprising and disappointing for a young player who seemed to show some growth in the offseason. But it was not quite enough for coach Erik Spoelstra.
“At this moment, I’m not in the rotation, which I have nothing against,” Jovic said, according to the Miami Herald. “It’s coach’s decision and I respect it. It’s on me to continue to work and show him what I can do.”
