Miami Heat Lock in Rising Star Nikola Jovic with Shocking $62.4 Million Deal—What This Means for the Future

When Tyler Herro stepped up at media day and without hesitation pointed to Nikola Jovic as the player ready to fill the void during his month-long absence, you could practically feel the buzz. There’s a certain excitement swirling around this young big man that’s hard to ignore. Now, couple that with the Miami Heat’s recent move — locking Jovic into a four-year, $62.4 million contract extension — and you’ve got a clear signal they believe this kid’s got serious potential. At just 22, Jovic’s numbers from last season and his stellar performance at EuroBasket suggest he’s not just riding a wave of hype; he’s carving out a space as a critical piece in the Heat’s puzzle. But with a coaching staff weighing the merits of Jovic versus rising talent Kel’el Ware for starting center alongside Bam Adebayo, the question hanging in the air is what the team’s ultimate game plan will be. One thing’s certain: whether he’s handing out assists from the bench or starting the game under the arena lights, Jovic is now firmly in the Heat’s long-term picture. LEARN MORE

When Tyler Herro was asked at media day which player would step up in his place with the All-Star guard out for the first month of the season, he quickly shouted out Nikola Jovic, adding he expected a “tremendous” season from the young big. Herro’s endorsement speaks to the hype around Jokic entering the season.

Jokic and the Heat have agreed to a four-year, $62.4 million contract extension, a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN and confirmed by other reports. This is a straight four, no options for either side. That extension is a good deal at just more than $15 million a season (it does not kick in until the 2026-27 season, he will play out his current contract for $4.4 million this season).

Jovic, 22 and entering his fourth season, averaged 10.7 points and 3.9 rebounds a game last season and was taking a step forward until he broke his hand in February, ending his season. The hype for Jovic only grew during EuroBasket, where he averaged 14.7 points and four rebounds a game for Serbia.

Jovic enters camp in a debate about who will be the starting center next to Bam Adebayo, Kel’el Ware or Jovic. The Heat see Ware as their starting center of the future, and he has to be considered the frontrunner, but entering his sophomore season he has a lot of development to do. With Herro out for the first month of the season, Jovic’s shooting (37.1% from 3-point range) and shot creation may be needed more than everything Ware brings. What will Erik Spoelstra and the Heat prioritize?

Whether he’s starting or coming off the bench, Jovic is getting paid.