It sounds like the Miami Heat are planning to do something they have not done much of these past few years: play Nikola Jovic at center.
The 22-year-old revealed as much during the team’s Media Day. And he made it a point to add that he’s “not worried about” having to shuffle between the 4 and 5 spots in Miami’s frontcourt.
This is a development many could see coming. One cursory look at the Heat’s depth chart is all you need to understand that they do not plan to rely on a bunch of traditional size, in large part because they don’t have traditional size.
Kel’el ware is the only player on the roster who stands taller than 6’10”, and there’s a chance he starts alongside Bam Adebayo. Miami does not have a true backup 5 on the roster if this turns out to be the case.
Nikola Jovic and the Heat are entering uncharted territory
Staggering Adebayo and Ware can paper over some of the gaps, but head coach Erik Spoelstra will invariably need Jovic to sponge up reps at the 5. And to answer your question: No, this does not change simply because the team reunited with Precious Achiuwa.
Standing 6’10”, Jovic has the size, in theory, to get by at the center position. It just isn’t something he has needed to do before.
Last year, just 3 percent of his minutes came at the 5 spot—a career low. Before that, he logged 10 percent of his possessions at center in 2023-24. And while 30 percent of his reps came in the middle as a rookie, that sample size clocks in at just under 60 minutes because he hardly played overall.
All of which renders Jovic-at-the-5 a clear departure from how the Heat have deployed their frontcourt. To be clear, it isn’t a reason not to embrace it. If anything, the absence of more information is exactly why Miami should use him in this role more often.
Jovic at center can absolutely work
Jovic stands to be a nightmare matchup for opposing defenses when he’s at center. Not only does he stretch the floor with his outside range, but he has the handle of someone who’s closer to a power wing than a conventional big man. Imagine traditional bigs attempting to guard that.
Lining Jovic up opposite rival 5s could, of course, come at a defensive cost. The Heat should internally agree not to care. Offense is their single biggest concern. It is what made their acquisition of Norman Powell critical on so many under-the-radar levels.
This offensive desperation should only intensify with Tyler Herro’s timetable for return from left ankle surgery leaving sidelined through November. Putting Jovic at the 5 opens up the floor for everyone during minutes without Adebayo. That’s a big deal, when you consider how much getting downhill matters to the effectiveness of not only Powell, but also Pelle Larsson and Davion Mitchell.
Who knows, giving Jovic more run at center could foment the kind of offensive breakout that inserts him into Most Improved Player discussions. It also might not move the needle. The Heat don’t know for sure. That's the entire point. It’s time for them to find out.