Serbian forward Nikola Jovic has declared for the 2022 NBA draft, agent Misko Raznatovic tells Jonathan Givony of ESPN. Jovic has already submitted the paperwork necessary to enter this year’s draft pool.
At just 18 years old, Jovic is a starter for Mega Mozzart in the Adriatic League, averaging 11.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG, and 3.3 APG in 28 minutes per contest this season, per Givony. The 6’10” forward has also debuted for the Serbian national team after leading the country to a fourth-place finish in FIBA’s Under-19 World Cup in 2021.
Although Jovic will have until June 13 to potentially remove his name from the draft, he ranks 23rd overall on ESPN’s big board of 2022 prospects, making him a probable first-round pick, so it would be a surprise if he withdraws.
According to Givony, Jovic’s combination of size, ball-handling, passing, and shot-making has attracted the interest of NBA scouts, who have likened him to NBA players like Danilo Gallinari and Deni Avdija. Mike Schmitz also raves about Jovic’s offensive potential in his scouting report, though he notes that the youngster still has some work to do on the defensive end.
This is like being named at birth Kove Bryant.
Or LeTron James
Isn’t he already in the NBA
Definitely did a double take on that title.
Hope the nuggets draft him
He’s in their draft range too
Pretty much has to happen, if the universe has any sense of humor at all.
Clone?
Very similar to Deni/Dario/Radmanovic but frankly a lil softer than those guys. The guy he sorta reminds me of the most is Tskitishvili the guy that Kiki drafted to Denver before Melo to basically be Kiki 2.0. If Jovic goes to the right situation he could eventually be a Kukoc type role player for a contender. But I feel like the chances of him being back in Europe in a few yrs is high too
2k regens entering real life.
Isn’t he already in the NBA? hello?
Mega Mozzart? What regular Mozzart isn’t good enough you need Mega Mozzart?
Hard agree
Got cowbell.
Cue a year of annoying journalists asking him about endlessly about the name similarity.
He’s a silky smooth athlete at 6’10” with a very quick release and deep range. I think he has potential to be closer to M.Porter Jr with a handle. Way, way more athletic than Dario. I don’t know why Sankara only mentions white Eastern Europeans and Baltics as comparisons.
Silky smooth mmmmm…
Just when I finally learned the difference between Bogdan Bogdanović and Bojan Bogdanović…
Lol still working on that one
Bogdan Bogdanoviç is the American equivalent to naming your kid Robert Robertson.
I for once I have him as my #3 in the draft!
This guy is gonna be astoundingly good, mark my words, any team passing on him after Chet & Paolo will live to regret it!
3?????????