NBA DRAFT

June 23, 2022

Nikola Jovic

Q. You're going to a team that is really well known for how well they develop young players, so how excited are you to go to a team with that track record?

NIKOLA JOVIC: I think it's a perfect fit for me, especially because they are a team who are contenders to win the title.

I'm a competitive guy, so I always try to win. I think it's a perfect fit for me right now.

Q. Did you watch Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, and if you did, did you find yourself thinking, if I could make one play or two plays that would have been the difference in that game to help the team move on?

NIKOLA JOVIC: There were a lot of plays in that game. I watched that game. I was actually at the arena for, what was that game, I'm not sure, Game 5 at Miami.

But Game 7, you know, they were just unlucky. That's all I'm going to say. Things didn't work out how they thought they would. That's all.

Of course, when you look at the game again, you always make a mistake. So they know already what mistakes they made and for sure they're working on it.

Q. Like you said, they are a contender and they have a lot of high-level vets like Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry. How excited are you to learn with guys who have been in the league and excelled at such a high level?

NIKOLA JOVIC: I think it's perfect because you can learn a lot from those guys, always, 24/7. I'm sure I'm going to learn a lot. I'm always trying to get more and more experience every day. With them, I'm sure I'm going to learn something new.

Q. What's the first thing you're going to buy with an NBA paycheck, and who do you look forward to play against?

NIKOLA JOVIC: First thing I'm going to buy, I'm not sure. Something for my family, for sure. I just want to get a gift for all of them because they are always here for me.

Who I'm looking forward to play against? Everyone. I want to compete. That's all.

Q. Do you anticipate it being a bit of a challenge to adjust to the U.S., and Miami in specific, and what do you think of the city?

NIKOLA JOVIC: I was in Miami for almost one month when I came for the draft process. I think the city is great -- nice weather, perfect weather. I met a lot of people there, really good people.

So I like Miami, yeah. The funny thing is, it's the first city I came to when I came to USA, so I think it's a perfect one.

Q. In addition to obviously the skills you have on the court, one of the main things that's being talked about you is how similar your name is to Nikola Jokic. Are you excited to play against him all?

NIKOLA JOVIC: I don't think we are that familiar. I think our basketball IQ and passing, I think that's the two things that we can kind of compare. Of course, he's doing it on another level. And of course I'm looking forward. I never met him before, so I'm looking forward to meet him and to play against him, it's going to be really good.