Erik Spoelstra sees potential big role for Nikola Jovic after promising performance

The Miami Heat have had a rollercoaster season with a 16-15 record after 31 games. Despite some disappointment after the hot start to the year, there were some promising signs for head coach Erik Spoelstra and the Heat.

Players like Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Nikola Jovic have carved out roles for themselves, as the former has become a top scorer for Miami. On the other hand, Jovic has continued to improve as a role player, which Spoelstra appreciates.

Spoelstra believes Jovic is standing out under the radar

When people speak about the Heat, most people will bring up the stars, which are Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, and Norman Powell. They also have Kel'el Ware, who is the most prominent young player on the roster. 

It is a promising roster because they have a good mix of talented veterans and youngsters. Spoelstra always wants to make a difference with his team, and he feels Jovic's performance against the Atlanta Hawks was quite impressive. In just 21 minutes, he had 10 points, seven rebounds, and four assists off the bench.

More: Heat’s Nikola Jovic believes the team is better than their current record shows

Spoelstra can be a tough coach to impress, as seen with his dynamic with Ware. However, Jovic is a different story because he has been one of the Heat's long-term projects for the past few years. Spoelstra is seeing the results, so he sees a bright future ahead.

"I think this was a good step for him to contribute and impact the game without making shots. You didn't see the body language stuff when he misses open 3s or layups/turnovers. He got onto the next play. He did some very good things. When he gets in better rhythm, I have no doubt the shooting will be better," Spoelstra said about Jovic's game.

Moving forward, Jovic could be one of the most impactful players on the roster. Of course, Jovic is not a star player like some of his teammates, but he will do his best to be impactful.

Spoelstra has long-term plans, and if Jovic continues to play like this, he will be part of them. It will be a promising future for the Heat and their fans, which should be quite exciting.

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