As fans of the Miami Heat confirms its predictions for the upcoming seasonThere are still some worrying injuries that have lingered since the end of their last campaign. Before people can predict any type of Heat record for this seasonwhat’s wrong with celebrity injuries Terry Rozier And Nikola Jovic?

Rozier was acquired before the trade deadline last season after a productive stint with the Charlotte Hornets to fill the point guard position since Kyle Lowry was involved in the deal. However, he would finish the season missing the final 11 games, including the playoffs due to a neck injury, though he told the media on Wednesday that he was “fully allowed to play 5 on 5” according to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald.

“I’m currently able to play 5-on-5,” Rozier said. “But I’m participating in all the activities on the court, I’m playing a little 3-on-3. So I think in the next couple of weeks I’ll move up to 5-on-5. I feel really good.”

As for young star Jovic, he has been struggling with an ankle and foot injury that he suffered during an off-season training session in Miami in June. However, Jovic will play for the Serbian national team at the Paris Olympics where he won the bronze medal. The 21-year-old said he is “almost fully healthy.”

“I would say I’m almost fully fit,” Jovic said. “Of course, there’s a small ligament that still needs to be 100 percent. They told me it would take a little longer, but it shouldn’t be a problem. Basically, I’m 100 percent.”

Heat’s Terry Rozier looking to further strengthen team cohesion

Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier (2) in the first half against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Images by Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn

Rozier who broke his silence in July after the injury is considered the “transfer” that could push the Heat into the background as they search for a complementary piece to Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro. He was starting to put it all together until his neck injury stopped the chemistry he’s building with Miami, which he hopes to do once training camp begins in late September.

“I’m a player, I’m a basketball player,” Rozier said. “I think the biggest thing is getting motivated. But once we’re all together in camp, the biggest thing is getting everybody together. I’m not going to try to learn how to play five-on-five, I’ll be fine. I think it’s just me getting with the other guys and getting to that level so we can play the right way, play together.”

In 31 games played for the Heat, Rozier averaged 16.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists and one steal per game while shooting 42.3 percent from the field and 37.1 percent from three-point range. His schedule was sporadic during the end of the season, when stiffness in his neck area turned into spasms, making Rozier’s chances of returning last season even more unlikely.

However, with a full offseason of recovery and a training camp to further solidify the connection with the rest of the team, he could still be the piece that keeps the Heat in contention in the Eastern Conference.

Heat player Nikola Jovic discusses injuries ahead of season

In addition to Miami’s Big Three and Rozier, fans are hoping to see big strides from their young stars, whether it’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. entering his sophomore campaign or Jovic entering his third season with the team. He said Wednesday there’s a chance he won’t even play for the Serbian national team at the Olympics.

“I had a little fracture,” Jovic told the Miami Herald. “It wasn’t just a sprained ankle, it was a little fracture that I had. I did the MRIs and everything, at that point they weren’t sure if I was going to make the Olympics. But my biggest goal was just to be there and be with the team and help them as much as I can and play.”

“We flew to Paris and I knew I wasn’t in great shape because I hadn’t played for a while,” Jovic continued. “My foot maybe wasn’t ready for an important role and we knew that, and the coach understands everything. But he still wanted me to go, he still believed I could help as much as I could and that’s what I did.”

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How the Heat is taking precautions with Jovic

The young Heat star would provide the first good news Jovic has had to recover from his injury midway through his spell with Serbia as he looks to take the next step with the team. During the second half of last season, Jovic began to spend a lot more time in the starting XI in the number four spot next to Adebayo, a position where several players like Caleb Martin and Haywood Highsmith have played.

Jovic is likely to retain his starting spot for the 2024-25 season, however, unless he suffers setbacks due to injuries sustained in the offseason. He added Wednesday that they are still taking precautions with his foot during his offseason work with the team.

“We make sure my foot is okay after every training session because the injury I suffered is of course no joke and we really don’t want any new problems with it,” Jovic said. “So during training camp I wouldn’t say I’m going to sit out or anything, but of course I just want to make sure everything is okay. If something starts to hurt, I’ll probably have to step away. But I don’t think that will be the case and I’m really looking forward to being 100 percent and giving it my all.”

Regardless, the Heat are preparing for the upcoming season as media day will be held on September 30 at the Kaseya Center, ahead of training camp in the Bahamas starting October 1.

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