On the last day of the Miami Heat’s time at the California Classic part of NBA Summer League play, they would find themselves facing off against the hosts of the tournament. In the finale of the three-day tournament at Chase Center in San Francisco, they would face off against the Golden State Warriors summer league squad.
After two disappointing defeats in their first two contests against the Lakers and the Kings, the Miami Heat would come out to try and leave California without being totally swept out of the win column.
And that’s just what they did.
Finishing the contest with a winning margin of 24 points, 94-70, the Miami Heat would be able to walk away from the first part of the summer league circuit knowing they did get themselves one victory.
On top of the mere being victorious of it all though, there was another key development that occurred in their final California game.
Miami Heat Summer League: Nikola Jovic Physicality Pops Among 3-Pt Show
The Miami Heat’s newest player, their recent first-round draftee in Nikola Jovic, had his best game of the three played thus far and by a long way. Finishing the first game against the Lakers with just three points and rebounds each, he would finish the second game against the Kings with only six points, four rebounds, and an assist.
Well, Jovic choose aggressiveness in his final game of this portion of play, as he would come out to double his total amount of points scored thus far and then go beyond that.
Finishing with 25 points and nine rebounds in their win over the Golden State Warriors summer league team, Jovic would put his complete offensive game on full display.
Today was the Nikola Jović breakout party in his 3rd #HEATSummer game 🔥 pic.twitter.com/19iCk8tATI
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) July 5, 2022
He would show you that his range game is as advertised, shooting 5/7 from deep on the day.
While you really love his ability to knock down the triple and from a myriad of positions, catching and shooting, with a man square in his face, and off the kick out to name a few, you really love another part of his game that was shown in the highlight reel from above.
Miami Heat Summer League: Nikola Jovic Has The Ability To Do A Lot On Floor
On several occasions, Jovic showed you a strong dose of physicality. It is always something to be worried about with European players and players that come from less-competitive leagues, as the athleticism and physicality of the NBA game can often overwhelm them.
Well, there’s that and the fact that Jovic looked a little slower and physically timider, at times, than everyone else on the floor during his first two games, for the most part. That wasn’t an issue on Tuesday though.
He finished through contact. He created space physically to get his shot off.
He attacked his own misses to put them back in traffic. He put himself in a position to be able to receive the passes down low and finish them with bodies around them.
He really showed some good things. Now, the key is to continue to build on those things while becoming that much more comfortable moving around the court and shaping his style of play around the NBA game.
Again though, you feel really good about what he showed you in their last California summer league game. Now, you look forward to seeing it carry over as this Heat summer squad moves to Las Vegas.