Nikola Jović

Nikola Jović (Serbian Cyrillic: Никола Јовић; born 9 June 2003) is a Serbian professional basketball player for Mega Basket of the ABA League. Standing at 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) and weighing 209 pounds (95 kg), he plays both shooting guard and small forward positions.

Not to be confused with Nikola Jokić.

Nikola Jović
No. 5 – Mega Basket
PositionSmall forward / Shooting guard
LeagueABA League
Personal information
Born (2003-06-09) 9 June 2003
Leicester, Leicestershire, England
NationalitySerbian / British
Listed height2.08 m (6 ft 10 in)
Listed weight95 kg (209 lb)
Career information
Playing career2021–present
Career history
2021–presentMega Basket
Career highlights and awards

Early career

Jović was born in the Royal Infirmary in Leicester, Leicestershire, England as his father Ilija was playing basketball.[1] He grew up playing water polo for VK Partizan as well as basketball.[2][3] Jović was playing basketball for the KK Sava youth system before he joined the Mega Basket youth system in 2018.[4][5] At the 2020–21 Euroleague Basketball Next Generation Tournament in Belgrade, he averaged 29.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.8 blocks in 28 minutes per game, while shooting 66% from the field and 17% from three and won the MVP award.[2]

Professional career

Jović made his senior debut for Mega Basket in February 2021 at the Radivoj Korać Cup tournament in Novi Sad. On 19 March, Jović made his ABA League debut in a 74–65 loss to Split recording 10 points and 9 rebounds in 21 minutes of playing time.[6] On 10 June 2021, one day after his 18th birthday he signed his first professional contract with Mega.[7][8]

In the NBA.com GM Survey for the 2021–22 NBA season, Jović received votes for the best international player not playing in the NBA.[9] In April 2022, Jović declared for the 2022 NBA draft.[10][11] In April 2022, he was named the ABA League Top Prospect for the 2021–22 season.[12][13]

National team career

Jović missed the 2019 FIBA U16 European Championship in Udine, Italy due to a right arm injury.[2]

Jović was a member of the Serbia U19 national team at the 2021 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup. Over seven tournament games, he averaged 18.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game.[14] He was named to the all-tournament team.[15]

In February 2022, Jović made his debut for the Serbia national team at the 2023 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, at the age of 18.

References
  1. "Tek drugi Srbin u top 10 na draftu? Nikola Jović je Megin novi NBA projekat". mozzartsport.com. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  2. "Nikola Jovic: The next great Serbian prospect?". espn.com.au. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  3. "ONI DOLAZE NIKOLA JOVIĆ: Novi srpski zlatni grumen rođen u Engleskoj". novosti.rs. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  4. "Nikola Jović kao novi Danilović". danas.rs. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  5. "Nikola Jović 0 Bek/Nisko krilo". bcmegabasket.net. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  6. "Split 74:65 Mega Soccerbet Beograd". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  7. "Nikola Jović potpisao profesionalni ugovor sa Megom". mozzartsport.com. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  8. "Prvi profesionalni ugovor – Nikola Jović". lige.kss.rs. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  9. "NBA.com 2021-22 GM Survey". nba.com. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  10. "Nikola Jović izlazi na NBA draft". b92.net. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  11. "Nikola Jovic, 18-year-old top prospect from Serbia, to enter 2022 NBA draft". espn.com. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  12. "2021/22 Top Prospect: Nikola Jović (Mega Mozzart)". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  13. "Nikola Jović najbolji mladi igrač ABA lige". b92.net. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  14. "Nikola JOVIC, PF, 2021 World Cup". fiba.basketball. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  15. "Chet Holmgren takes home TISSOT MVP award after helping USA to U19 World Cup title". FIBA. 11 July 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
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