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Heat’s Nikola Jovic breaks silence on constant involvement in Giannis trade rumors appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
With the Miami Heat trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis Jr. in a blockbuster deal, there was some mystery about who would be in the package to be sent to the Milwaukee Bucks. As Tyler Herro sends his goodbyes to the Heat, along with Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Kasparas Jakucionis, the one player who stayed with the team is Nikola Jovic, though he might’ve thought differently.
Speaking in Las Vegas after a workout as the Miami Summer League team is underway, Jovic would be asked about being involved in the rumors surrounding Antetokounmpo, leading to honest responses. The 23-year-old would even go as far as to say, “I thought I was probably not going to be here.”
“I was happy that I stayed,” Jovic said, via The Miami Herald. “I thought I was probably not going to be here. But I’m really happy. Obviously, not only because I’m going to share the court and play with [Antetokounmpo], but I’m also happy that I’m going to be able to learn from one of the greatest power forwards ever. The way he lives, the way he treats basketball, and stuff like that. “
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Heat’s Nikola Jovic ‘wasn’t really worried’ about being traded
However, Jovic understands basketball is a business, as the 2022 first-round draft pick looks to improve after averaging 7.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game, shooting 36.6 percent from the field and 26.9 percent from deep in 47 games.
“Like they always say, you cannot control it,” Jovic said. “It’s not up to me, at the end of the day. Of course, I want to stay. As long as I’m here, I want to feel like I’m giving something back to the city, to the fans, to the team.”
After showing signs of improvement in the 2024-25 season and signing a four-year, $62.4 million contract, he had regressed.
This upcoming season is a prime opportunity to put last year in the past, as he’s even shown out with the Serbian national team. Jovic scored 22 and 32 points in European World Cup qualifying games against Switzerland and Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 2 and July 6, respectively.
Related: The Cavs, Heat, or 76ers? Which team will LeBron James play for in 2026-27?
Related: NBA rumors: Insider thinks Bucks should’ve tried trading Damian Lillard for LeBron due to Giannis
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