The Miami Heat could have multiple opportunities for players to carve out significant roles when the 2025–26 season tips off.
While Tyler Herro, Andrew Wiggins, and Bam Adebayo appear to have their starting spots secured, and Davion Mitchell and Kel’el Ware made strong cases for regular minutes last season, there remain several openings in the rotation that ambitious players can seize.
One player who could make a strong push is Nikola Jovic, and his performance in this summer’s EuroBasket may give him a head start, according to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Winderman notes that Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra is closely watching the player during the international competition, hoping to see the Serbian forward embrace a leadership role as one of his national team’s main contributors.
Jovic’s role with the Heat dipped last season as Ware emerged as a key contributor. After starting 38 games the season prior, Jovic made only 10 starts last year.
Despite the reduced role, he remained productive, averaging 10.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists, while shooting 37.1% from beyond the arc.
A strong showing in EuroBasket could allow Jovic to hit the ground running next season and compete for a meaningful role in Miami’s rotation.
He already gave a glimpse of his potential in a recent exhibition win against Slovenia, where he poured in 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting – a performance that reportedly drew Spoelstra’s attention firsthand.
If Jovic can carry this momentum back to Miami, he could emerge as a reliable contributor, providing the Heat with versatility, scoring, and playmaking off the bench or in a starting role, depending on how the roster shakes out.
His EuroBasket experience could also help him grow as a leader and floor general, something Spoelstra values highly in his rotation players.
Erik Spoelstra will be watching Nikola Jovic closely during the EuroBasket tournament, plus more on the Heat. https://t.co/bYc9Zl9tX8
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) August 25, 2025
