Nikola Jovic is preparing for EuroBasket 2025 with Serbia and believes the tournament will sharpen his form heading into the upcoming NBA season.
The Miami Heat forward, who averaged 10.7 points and 3.9 rebounds in 25.1 minutes per game during the 2024–25 campaign, understands the risks involved but sees value in international competition.
“You’re letting someone play for their country, paying them a lot of money, and they’re important to you,” Jovic told South Florida Sun-Sentinel. “An injury would definitely be a setback for them.”
Despite the concerns, the 22-year-old is grateful for the trust Miami has shown and credits former Heat guard Goran Dragic for offering a successful blueprint.
Jovic said Dragic “always came back from international tournaments a better player,” which gives him confidence that he can follow a similar path.
The Serbian national team is expected to lean heavily on Jovic during EuroBasket, as it aims to build on its bronze medal performance at the 2024 Olympics and silver finish at the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
Jovic believes staying in game shape during the NBA offseason can help him maintain rhythm and secure a more consistent role in Miami’s rotation.
“This way, I enter the new NBA season already in game rhythm. I just keep going,” he added.
Serbia will compete in Group A of EuroBasket, alongside Latvia, Turkiye, Czechia, Estonia, and Portugal. The team opens group play on August 27 against Estonia in Riga.
Jovic’s experience with the Heat over three NBA seasons has shown steady development, with his scoring and playmaking improving each year.
He has appeared in 107 regular season games since being drafted, including 46 games this past season, where he posted career-highs across nearly every statistical category.
In the 2025 playoffs, Jovic contributed 9.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game while coming off the bench in all four contests.
