Heat rookie Nikola Jovic has a lower back stress reaction. He will be sidelined four weeks and then will be reevaluated, the Heat’s PR department tweets.
The Serbian forward was the 27th pick in last June’s draft. He has appeared in 15 games this season with the Heat, including eight starts, averaging 5.5 points and 2.1 rebounds in 13.6 minutes per game. He has also appeared in six G League games with the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
It’s a tough setback for Jovic, though he figured to spend more time in the G League as the Heat got healthier.
Jovic is making approximately $2.24MM in his first season and $11.5MM across his four-year rookie deal. The 19-year-old averaged 11.7 points per game last season while playing for Mega Basket in Europe’s ABA League.