MIAMI – With the Miami Heat starting a new era with Giannis Antetokounmpo at the forefront, there's no denying that his presence will impact every player on the roster. Looking at the Heat's promosing players this upcoming season, it'll be another test for Nikola Jovic, who spoke recently of a player that he would love to model their career after, and it isn't an obvious answer like Antetokounmpo or Bam Adebayo.

Of course the two players will have an impact on Jovic's development, but the one that the 23-year-old highlighted after Saturday's preseason loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves is Bobby Portis Jr., a newcomer to Miami.

Coming along with Antetokounmpo in the trade from the offseason, Portis has been a productive player off the bench for a majority of his career, providing not just kinetic energy to a lineup, but a presence on the glass along with three-point shooting. Speaking after the team's 125-124 preseason loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday, Jovic mentioned the veteran working with him, saying that “I really hope I have a career” like Portis.

“In a lot of the meetings during the training camp, I kind of even said, you know, in front of everybody that you know, at one point, I really hope I have a career like Bobby, and I think a lot of people underestimate him, things he done, and can learn a lot-not just from him, guys like Klay [Thompson] and Giannis [Antetokounmpo], and even though I had a lot of vets and a lot of good ones, you can always learn more…and Tim [Hardaway Jr.]. I'm sorry, I forgot about Tim, but I'm for sure going to use him as a guy who are going to help you grow on and off the court.”

Nikola Jovic speaks on the growing relationship with Bobby Portis Jr., says it’s going great and how he hopes he has a career like him. #Heat pic.twitter.com/qMEH6DQNoq

— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) October 11, 2026

A look at Nikola Jovic's past two seasons with the Heat

Jovic has had an up-and-down four seasons with the Heat ever since being drafted with the 27th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Displaying his offensive talent in spacing the floor while standing at a six-foot-10-inch frame, Jovic has also experienced regression, especially last season.

In the 2025-26 season in 46 games (10 starts), Jovic averaged a career-high 10.7 points with 3.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists while shooting 45.6 percent from the field and 37.1 percent from three-point range in 25.1 minutes per game.

Last season was a different story, dealing with a string of injuries and having trouble adjusting to Miami's fast-paced offense, he averaged 7.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.2 assists while shooting 36.6 percent from the field and 26.9 percent from deep in 17.2 minutes per game in 47 contests (one start).

Heat's Erik Spoelstra reveals his favorite Nikola Jovic plays

Jovic took a step forward in the aforementioned preseason loss; with the projected starters not playing, he got the nod. Saturday saw him record 16 points on seven of 11 shooting from the field, two of two from beyond the arc, to go along with six rebounds, three assists, and three steals.

For Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra, he's not worried about Jovic's talent, still displaying confidence in the forward, but what he saw an improvement in was his body language, with his favorite plays from Saturday showcasing that aspect.

“I've been encouraged, and this is what I continue to tell him: just stack positive days, and then if there's a day that's not a positive day, just come back the next day, and get back to it,” Jovic said. “My favorite play of the night was some kind of broken fast break and made a turnover on a pass. I think he's been known to like sometimes have the body language of run into the stands. He just turned around dead ass to get back on defense, and then came back and missed another chippy, and then turned around and got back into the fight.”

“That's what we're talking about. It's not about anything else. He has the skills,” Spoelstra continued. “You could see that on display really in all of the games right now, and he'll just continue to get better. You know, that happens to every single NBA player; when the game is not going how you want it to go, you just figure out how you're going to win that next possession.”

Erik Spoelstra speaks on being “encouraged” about Nikola Jovic’s progression, mentioning the improvement in body language when something doesn’t go his way, mentioned some of his favorite plays in relation. #Heat pic.twitter.com/nmHahJQcxS

— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) October 11, 2026

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Heat's Nikola Jovic believes he “grew up”

Jovic had spoken during training camp about the need to improve his body language and move forward quickly after a play doesn't go his way. Hearing Spoelstra's words, Jovic would say how he feels he “grew up.”

“Yeah, I mean, I think I just grew up a little bit. It's a new year for me, and I'm just smarter in a certain type of situation,” Jovic said. “And next play speed is something that he really wants me to be good at. So that's something I'm just locked in a little bit more now, and as simple as that.”

At any rate, it remains to be seen how Jovic will play in his fifth season with the Heat as the preseason continues on Wednesday against the Memphis Grizzlies, which is all preparation for the regular-season opener on Oct. 21 against the Timberwolves.