Miami Heat at Least a Month Due to Hand Injury
Miami Heat forward Nikola Jović is set to be sidelined for at least a month after suffering a hand fracture.
The team provided an update on Tuesday, confirming that Jović sustained the injury during Sunday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks. He was evaluated by hand specialist Dr. Elizabeth Ann Ouellette alongside team physician Dr. Harlan Selesnick, who determined that he fractured the second metacarpal in his right hand. Jović will wear a splint and be re-evaluated in four weeks.
Jović has been a key contributor for Miami this season, appearing in 46 games (10 starts) and averaging 10.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists while shooting 45.6% from the field. He has reached double figures in scoring 27 times, including four 20-point performances.
This injury adds to the Heat’s recent struggles, as they have managed just one win since trading All-Star Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors earlier this month.
Dwyane Wade Jokes That LeBron James Left Miami Heat After Pat Riley Confiscated His Cookies
At 40 years old, LeBron James continues to dominate the NBA, thanks to his strict health and fitness regimen. However, even the most disciplined athletes have their guilty pleasures—and for James, that indulgence is chocolate chip cookies.
During a recent appearance on the Underground Lounge podcast, former teammate and close friend Dwyane Wade shared a lighthearted story about James’ time with the Miami Heat. Wade revealed that James always traveled with two bags on team flights—one filled with meals from his personal chef and the other stocked with chocolate chip cookies.
However, one day, when James requested his cookies, he was informed that Heat president Pat Riley had ordered them to be removed. According to Wade, this moment marked the beginning of the end for James in Miami.
“It was too much micromanaging at that point,” Wade said (at the 29-minute mark of the podcast). “We had been to four straight NBA Finals. You don’t need to micromanage us. And I felt Riles went a little too far with things like that. He’s a grown man, you don’t take the cookies away from us.”
Wade emphasized that small details like these help players get through a grueling season that can stretch beyond 100 games.
His remarks come shortly after fellow Heat legend Tim Hardaway also criticized Riley’s management style, suggesting that his handling of star players—such as giving Jimmy Butler too much control—contributed to locker-room tensions.
At 79, Riley remains one of the most accomplished figures in NBA history, with nine championships as a player, coach, and executive. However, as frustrations within the organization mount, questions about his leadership in Miami’s future continue to grow.
