Meet the Heat rookie who looks like a high schooler — and technically still is one

NEW YORK — Miami Warmth rookie Nikola Jovic is already a extremely completed 19-year-old.

Jovic was the twenty seventh decide in June’s NBA draft, made his NBA preseason debut Tuesday towards the Minnesota Timberwolves and impressed in Thursday night time’s preseason matchup towards the Brooklyn Nets together with his finest displaying but: 10 factors, 3 rebounds, 5 assists and a pair of steals in 16 minutes in a 109-80 Warmth victory.

There is one activity that continues to be on Jovic’s to-do listing: Graduating highschool.

“He is extraordinarily distinctive,” Warmth coach Erik Spoelstra stated after Miami’s win. “He is so younger.

“To place it in perspective, he is nonetheless ready to do his remaining examination to graduate from highschool, and doing that over Zoom.”

To be exact, Jovic has one remaining step earlier than graduating — a complete examination to cap his senior yr in Serbia. The remainder of his classmates took the examination within the spring, when Jovic was going by draft exercises.

“I did not have time [to take the exam] — particularly due to the time distinction,” Jovic stated with a sheepish smile contained in the Barclays Heart visiting locker room.

Jovic stated he had no regrets about his determination, which did not sit properly with somebody particularly: Mother.

“Yeah. At that second, I’d say [the workouts were more important],” Jovic stated. “She needed me to complete faculty. However I used to be like, ‘Mother!’”

Now, Jovic plans to not solely end highschool, however to go on to school after.

“Most likely quickly, ,” he stated, when requested when he’ll take the check. “As quickly as I’ve a bit of me time, I will do it. As quickly as I get involved with my academics and stuff, as a result of like I stated, the time distinction is actually [big].”

As his teammates discovered of Spoelstra’s postgame revelation, Warmth veteran Dewayne Dedmon gave Jovic a good-natured ribbing:

“You ain’t even graduated highschool?” an incredulous Dedmon requested.

“I am ending it proper now,” Jovic stated.

“You realize, you possibly can’t go from highschool to the professionals but,” Dedmon stated in response.

“You’ll be able to from Europe,” Jovic stated.

“Apparently,” Dedmon stated, drawing some laughs.

Throughout Thursday night time’s win, Jovic flashed a number of the all-around ability that led Miami to pick the 6-foot-10 ahead within the first spherical out of Mega Mozzart within the Adriatic League, and Spoelstra stated he was happy with how the rookie carried out.

“His ability set is exclusive due to his measurement,” Spoelstra stated. “He is actually simply beginning his weight-lifting program with us the final six weeks. So we cannot even see the good thing about that till subsequent summer time. However then his capacity to deal with, to shoot, to place the ball on the ground. He is a very good passer. That is in all probability at this level his finest ability, and he is growing all the remainder of it.

“[He’s] dwelling in a brand new nation, new metropolis, new teammates, he is taking part in with all people that is principally 10 years older or greater than him, and we’re excited concerning the potential that he brings.”

For his half, Jovic stated the thought of sharing the courtroom with superstars akin to Kevin Durant, who scored 22 factors in Brooklyn’s loss, was one thing he’ll slowly get used to as he adjusts to life within the NBA.

“Unbelievable,” Jovic stated. “Final yr, I used to be a child who was going to highschool and after highschool I’d go dwelling and watch a few of these guys on TV, or on YouTube.

“And now I get to play towards them. So yeah, it is totally different. Unbelievable.”