I just read it and was surprised how frustrated he seems right now. Here is the original text: https://www.maxbetsport.rs/nikola-jovic-majami-hit-nba-liga-481910/ I have put the English translation below:
Nikola Jovic finally played for Miami, which lost to Brooklyn on the night between Saturday and Sunday in New York. The Serbian spent 16 and a half minutes on the court and during that time he recorded one point, six rebounds and five assists, which is a quite good performance considering that he did not play excessively this season.
After the game, Jović gave an interview to “MaxBet Radio” on the show “60 minutes with Vlad and Aco”, in which he expressed his dissatisfaction with the role he has in Miami:
- It’s not easy, it’s really not easy. It’s even harder for me than last year. I mean, I kind of feel like I can play and I deserve it. They think I’m not ready yet and I totally understand. There is nothing there. I don’t know where this is going, and all I’m trying to do is be on the field as much as possible. Somehow, even when I’m playing, I feel like maybe I’m being misused. I hope that some things will change, I will continue to work… I really support everything they do for me and it will get better for sure - Nikola said with sadness in his voice.
Interestingly, coach Erik Spoelstra used him at center against the Nets, which is kind of the wrong position for Jovic. Was that place on the field more about defense or in general?
- More on the defensive game. Everything I’m good at, they don’t seem to use, and what I’m worse at, they seem to force it. Those things make me not feel the best on the pitch. What do I know, it will get better.
Jović had two attractive passes during the match. When asked if he sees his strength in that, his versatility, he answered:
- I know that I can play in several positions and in several ways, but they simply seem to be trying to limit me in some way. I’m really coping and trying to make the best of this, but it’s not easy. It’s really not easy.
He then revealed that he himself insisted on going to the developmental G League:
- I insisted. There is no point in sitting out the whole season after a good summer. I even like the G league, but there I play in the “five” position. Somehow, it’s like there’s no way out for me right now. I still don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, but I’m sure there will be.
Of course, the inevitable question was whether he gained confidence after his performance at the World Championship in Manila:
- Well, it gave me confidence. That’s why I was ready for the new season. I thought everything would look better. I thought I showed that I can play at the highest level, but there you go. It seems that it was not enough for them and I hope it will get better.
Then he spoke again about the “five” position, this time about whether he expected to play it:
- I didn’t expect it, but here it is… It seems that the only thing I could have expected and that I will have to think about it a lot more in the future.
Finally, he compared being in warm Miami to cold Sioux Falls, where he played while on the development team:
- I mean, it’s good. I’m there for basketball and that’s how I think about it - concluded Nikola Jović.
They’re letting their lack of depth at center necessitate a miracle