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.