Last Updated on October 3, 2026 by Pedro Salcas
Nikola Jović’s family has played an important role in his journey from England and Serbia to the NBA. Born on June 9, 2003, in Leicester, England, the Miami Heat forward is the son of former professional basketball player Ilija Jović and Svetlana Jović. He also grew up with two sisters, Jelena and Irina.
Basketball was already part of the Jović household before Nikola was born because his father was playing professionally in England at the time of his birth. The family later returned to Serbia, where Nikola initially pursued water polo before concentrating on basketball and eventually developing into an NBA first-round draft pick. Away from the court, Jović has kept his romantic life largely private. Here is what is publicly known about Nikola Jović’s girlfriend, children, parents and siblings.
Who Is Nikola Jović’s Girlfriend?
Nikola Jović has not publicly confirmed a girlfriend through an official or highly authoritative source.
There has been online speculation linking the Miami Heat forward with Adriana Djokovic. The two were photographed together at the Miami Heat Charitable Fund’s Saturday Night Vice gala in Miami in 2025, where they appeared together on the event’s red carpet.
However, appearing together at a public event does not by itself establish a romantic relationship. Neither Jović nor his representatives have publicly identified Djokovic as his girlfriend, and reports discussing the speculation have noted that the relationship remains unconfirmed.
For that reason, Adriana Djokovic is best described as someone who has appeared publicly alongside Jović rather than as his confirmed girlfriend unless either of them publicly defines their relationship.
Is Nikola Jović Married?
As of now, there is no reliable public confirmation that Nikola Jović is married.
His official NBA biography identifies his parents and sisters but does not list a wife or spouse. Jović has generally kept his relationships outside basketball away from extensive media attention.
Does Nikola Jović Have Children?
As of now, Nikola Jović does not have any publicly confirmed children.
No announcement from Jović, the Miami Heat or another reliable source has identified him as a father. Most verified information about his immediate family concerns his parents, Ilija and Svetlana, and his sisters, Jelena and Irina.
Who Are Nikola Jović’s Parents?
Nikola Jović’s parents are Ilija Jović and Svetlana Jović. Both are named in his official NBA biography.
The family lived in England during the early years of Nikola’s life because Ilija was pursuing his professional basketball career there. They later moved to Serbia when Nikola was nine years old.
Nikola Jović’s Father: Ilija Jović
Ilija Jović is Nikola Jović’s father and a former professional basketball player.
Ilija was playing professional basketball in Leicester, England, when Nikola was born in 2003. His career explains why Nikola, despite representing Serbia internationally and growing up primarily in Belgrade, was born in England.
The Miami Heat has confirmed that the Jović family moved to Belgrade when Nikola was about nine years old.
Ilija’s own basketball background naturally gave Nikola an early connection to the sport, although basketball was not initially his son’s only athletic interest. Nikola spent part of his childhood playing water polo for VK Partizan before becoming serious about basketball at around 13 years old.
Jović has spoken particularly warmly about his father’s influence. When asked in an interview who he considered his greatest of all time, Nikola answered that his father was his personal “GOAT,” explaining that Ilija had always helped him grow and was someone he continually looked up to.
That connection makes Ilija one of the most important figures behind Nikola’s development both as a basketball player and as a person.
Nikola Jović’s Mother: Svetlana Jović
Svetlana Jović is Nikola Jović’s mother.
Unlike her husband and son, Svetlana has maintained a relatively private public profile. Reliable sources provide limited information about her profession or personal background.
She has nevertheless been publicly present at major moments in Nikola’s basketball career. Svetlana attended the 2022 NBA Draft with her husband, supporting Nikola when the Miami Heat selected him with the 27th overall pick.
Photographs from draft night showed Nikola accompanied by both of his parents as he began the next stage of his career in the United States.
Because Svetlana is not a public sports figure herself, details about her life beyond those confirmed by the family or official basketball sources should be treated cautiously.
Does Nikola Jović Have Siblings?
Yes. Nikola Jović has two sisters named Jelena Jović and Irina Jović.
The Miami Heat and NBA officially identify Jelena and Irina as Nikola’s sisters. There is no brother listed in his official family biography.
Jelena Jović
Jelena Jović is one of Nikola Jović’s two sisters.
Jelena has largely remained outside the public spotlight surrounding her brother’s NBA career. Reliable basketball sources confirm her family relationship but provide few additional details about her education, profession or private life.
Nikola appears to protect his sisters’ privacy, and neither Jelena nor Irina has developed the same public profile associated with their NBA-playing brother.
Irina Jović
Irina Jović is Nikola Jović’s other sister.
Like Jelena, Irina is specifically named in Nikola’s official NBA biography. However, little reliable information about her personal life is publicly available.
The limited information surrounding both sisters is consistent with the generally private way the Jović family has handled life away from professional basketball.
Does Nikola Jović Have a Brother?
No brother is identified in Nikola Jović’s official NBA biography. The league lists his siblings as his two sisters, Jelena and Irina.
This is sometimes confused online because basketball fans associate Jović with other Serbian players, particularly Nikola Jokić. However, Jović and Jokić belong to different families.
Is Nikola Jović Related to Nikola Jokić?
No. Nikola Jović and Nikola Jokić are not brothers and are not publicly known to be related.
The similarity between their names frequently creates confusion. Both are Serbian international basketball players, and both have played for Serbia at major international tournaments, but they come from different families.
Jović’s parents are Ilija and Svetlana Jović, while Nikola Jokić comes from the Jokić family of Sombor, Serbia.
The difference is also visible in their surnames: Jović contains a “v,” while Jokić contains a “k.”
Why Was Nikola Jović Born in England?
Nikola Jović was born in Leicester, England, because his father, Ilija Jović, was playing professional basketball there at the time.
Nikola spent part of his childhood in England before the family moved to Serbia when he was nine years old.
He subsequently grew up in Belgrade and developed his sporting abilities there. His first serious athletic focus was water polo, a sport with a strong tradition in Serbia.
Jović played water polo for VK Partizan before basketball eventually became his primary sport.
How Nikola Jović’s Father Influenced His Basketball Career
Growing up as the son of a professional basketball player gave Jović an unusual connection to the sport from childhood, but Ilija did not simply force his son into basketball.
Nikola explored different sports and became particularly interested in water polo. He did not begin concentrating seriously on basketball until he was about 13 years old.
He initially played in the KK Sava youth system before joining Mega Basket in 2018.
Jović quickly developed into one of Serbia’s leading young prospects. He was named MVP of the Belgrade qualifier for the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament and later earned recognition as the ABA League’s Top Prospect for the 2021-22 season.
His development eventually led him to the 2022 NBA Draft, where Miami selected him with the 27th overall pick.
Jović’s later comments about his father show that Ilija’s influence extended beyond simply introducing him to basketball. Nikola has described his father as someone who helped him grow “in every single way possible.”
Nikola Jović’s Family at the 2022 NBA Draft
The 2022 NBA Draft became one of the biggest moments the Jović family experienced together.
Nikola attended the event in Brooklyn with his parents, Ilija and Svetlana. When the Miami Heat selected him with the 27th overall pick, the moment marked the culmination of a journey that had begun with his father’s own professional basketball career in England.
Jović was only 19 years old when Miami drafted him, making his move to the United States another major adjustment for the young Serbian player and his family.
His parents’ presence on draft night demonstrated the support they had provided throughout his development from England to Belgrade and eventually to the NBA.
Nikola Jović’s Serbian Family Roots
Although Nikola Jović was born in England, his family is Serbian and his sporting identity developed largely in Serbia.
The family relocated to Belgrade during his childhood, and Jović progressed through Serbian youth basketball before playing professionally with Mega Basket.
He later chose to represent Serbia internationally. Jović played for Serbia at youth level before becoming part of the senior national team.
He helped Serbia reach the final of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, where the team earned the silver medal, and later won a bronze medal with Serbia at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Those achievements strengthened his connection with the country where he spent most of his childhood and developed as a basketball player.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nikola Jović’s Family
Who are Nikola Jović’s parents?
Nikola Jović’s parents are Ilija Jović and Svetlana Jović. His father is a former professional basketball player.
Who is Nikola Jović’s father?
Nikola’s father is Ilija Jović. He played professional basketball in England, which is why Nikola was born in Leicester.
Who is Nikola Jović’s mother?
His mother is Svetlana Jović. She has maintained a private profile but accompanied Nikola during major moments including the 2022 NBA Draft.
Does Nikola Jović have siblings?
Yes. Nikola Jović has two sisters, Jelena and Irina Jović.
Does Nikola Jović have a brother?
No brother is listed in his official NBA biography. His documented siblings are his sisters Jelena and Irina.
Who is Nikola Jović’s girlfriend?
Nikola Jović has not officially confirmed a girlfriend. He has appeared publicly with Adriana Djokovic, including at a Miami Heat charity gala in 2025, but a romantic relationship between them has not been reliably confirmed.
Is Nikola Jović married?
No reliable public source currently identifies Nikola Jović as married.
Does Nikola Jović have children?
As of now, Nikola Jović has no publicly confirmed children.
Is Nikola Jović related to Nikola Jokić?
No. Nikola Jović and Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokić are different Serbian basketball players from different families and are not publicly known to be related.
Where was Nikola Jović born?
Nikola Jović was born in Leicester, England, on June 9, 2003, while his father was playing professional basketball there.
Why does Nikola Jović play for Serbia if he was born in England?
Jović comes from a Serbian family and moved to Serbia when he was nine years old. He grew up primarily in Belgrade and developed through Serbia’s basketball system before representing the country internationally.
Pedro Salcas is a dedicated sports journalist and NBA specialist focused on team strategy, player performance, and league news. Tracking action across the Eastern and Western Conferences, he breaks down complex game tape, roster moves, and statistics into clear, engaging analysis. From preseason storylines to deep playoff runs, Pedro brings a sharp analytical perspective and passion for basketball to keep readers informed on everything happening in the NBA.
