The Miami Heat and forward Nikola Jovic have agreed on a four-year, $62.4 million extension. This commitment comes after Jovic’s steady improvement over three seasons. He averaged 10.7 points last season. The deal was confirmed by a source on Wednesday night, though the contract isn’t signed yet. Jovic was working with the Serbian national team this summer, and the Heat expect his role to grow this season. Coach Erik Spoelstra praised his maturity and professionalism. The Heat had until October 20 to finalize the extension, or Jovic would have become a restricted free agent next summer.
MIAMI (AP) — The Miami Heat and forward Nikola Jovic have agreed on the framework of a four-year, $62.4 million extension, a person with knowledge of the talks said Wednesday night.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because the contract has not been signed.
It's a significant commitment by the Heat to Jovic, who averaged 5.5 points as a rookie, 7.7 points in his second season and then 10.7 points last season. Jovic is coming off a strong summer working with the Serbian national team, and the Heat expect that his role is going to continue to grow this season.
“He’s becoming more mature, more professional," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said earlier this week at media day, when asked about Jovic and how his time with the Serbian team has helped in recent summers. "And if you’re hanging out with players much older than you, it just naturally happens. I’ve seen growth from him over three years because of that standard that they’ve had in that program.”
The Heat and Jovic had until Oct. 20 to work out an extension. Otherwise, the 6-foot-10 Jovic — the No. 27 pick by Miami in the 2022 draft — would have been a restricted free agent next summer.
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