Position: Center
Birthday —— October 24, 1990
Age—— 31
Height/Weight —— 6’10″/260 Ibs.
Hometown —— Morges, Switzerland
High School —— Stoneridge Prep
College —— USC
NBA Experience —— 11 Years
Draft—— Round 1, Pick 16, 2011
Professional Career
Philadelphia 76ers- 2011-12
The Philadelphia 76ers selected Nikola Vucevic on June 22, 2011. Due to the 2011 NBA lockout, Vucevic decided to play for KK Budućnost to stay in shape. KK Buducnost is a professional basketball club located in Podgorica, Montenegro. Vucevic averaged 16.9 points and 9.7 rebounds in 10 games. That led to a 6-4 with Vucevic on the squad. In December, Vucevic reached a rookie deal with the 76ers. In his first NBA game, he got 6 points and six rebounds in a 103-83 against the Phoenix Suns.
Orlando Magic – 2012-2021
On August 9, 2012, he was a part of the four-team trade that sent Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles and Vucevic to the Orlando Magic. The Magic also received Aaron Afflalo, Al Harrington, and one first-round protected pick from each of the three teams. Those teams in the trade included Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, and Philadelphia 76ers.
In his first game playing for Orlando, he had 6 points and four rebounds in a 102-89 win against the Denver Nuggets. He broke Shaq’s record for most rebounds in a game by a Magic player with 29 on December 31 against the Miami Heat. Vucevic participated in the 2013 Rising Stars Game at NBA All-Star Weekend, getting 15 points and four rebounds in 20 minutes. On April 13, 2013, he recorded 30 points and 20 rebounds in a 113-103 OT win against the Milwaukee Bucks. He would finish the 2012-13 season with averages of 13.1 points and 11.9 rebounds in 77 games. In 44 out of his 77 games, he got a double-double.
Vucevic appeared and started in 57 games during the 2013-14 season, averaging 14.2 points and 11.0 rebounds. On March 31, 2014, Vucevic earned Eastern Conference player of the week honors for games March 23-30. Orlando went 2-1 during that week. Vucevic got a double-double in all three games and averaged 22.7 points and 14.3 rebounds in those three games. He became the first Magic player since Dwight Howard in 2012 to have gotten that award.
New Contract – 2014-15 Season
Vucevic started the 2014-15 season by signing a four-year, $53 million contract extension with the Orlando Magic on October 23, 2014. His most clutch moment of the season came when Vucevic hit pair of game-tying free throws to force overtime with 11.9 seconds left on November 7, 2014, against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Orlando would win 112-103, with Vucevic scoring 14 points and nine rebounds. In the other season matchup against the Timberwolves, Vucevic scored a career-high 37 points in a 97-84 win. Nikola Vucevic would end the 2014-15 season, averaging 19.3 points and 10.9 rebounds in 74 games.
Vucevic, after a 3-game absence, to start the 2015-16 season. On November 11, 2015, he got 18 points, including an 18-foot game-winner at the buzzer to beat the Lakers 101-99. That game against the Lakers marked the first time in Vucevic’s Magic career that he came off the bench. Before November 11, 2015, Vucevic started in 223 straight games for the Orlando Magic. On February 7, he scored 22 points and hit another game-winner to lead the Magic over the Atlanta Hawks 96-94. Vucevic would finish the season with averages of 18.2 points and 8.9 rebounds in 65 games.
After starting 16 straight games to start the 2016-17 season, Vucevic began to come off the bench once again in late November. Vucevic missed three games in December due to a lower back injury. But he got back in the starting lineup in mid-January. On April 10, 2017, he recorded ten rebounds against the Bulls to pass Shaquille O’Neal on the Magic’s all-time rebounding list. Vucevic finished the season with averages of 14.6 points and 10.4 rebounds in 75 games (55 Starts).
First Triple Double – 2017-18 Season
Vucevic began the 2017-18 season hot with him when he scored a career-high 41 points and got 12 rebounds in a 126-121 loss to the Brooklyn Nets. On December 9, 2017, he got his first triple-double of his career with 31 points, 13 rebounds, and ten assists against the Hawks. He finished with averages of 16.5 points and 9.2 rebounds in 57 games. He missed 23 games due to a fractured second metacarpal on his left hand (December 26 – February 14 and lower back tightness (April 6). Vucevic missed one other game due to rest.
First All-Star Game Appearance – 2018-19 Season
Vucevic became a popular name after getting his second career triple-double with 27 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists in a 116-115 loss against the 76ers. On November 19, 2018, Vucevic was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played November 11-18. Orlando was 3-1 during that week. Vucevic was a big part of the Magic winning their division for the first time since 2009-10 with a 42-40 record. He finished 5th in the Most Improved Player of the Year Award. He ended the season with averages of 20.8 points and 12.0 rebounds in 80 games. Orlando lost in 5 games against the Toronto Raptors, and Vucevic averaged 11.2 points and 8.0 rebounds. His best performance was in game 3, when he got a double-double of 22 points and 14 rebounds.
Final Stretch with Magic – 2019-2021
On July 6, 2019, Vucevic signed a 4-year/$100 million contract to stay on the Orlando Magic. He got named Eastern Conference Player of the week for games played November 10-17. Orlando went 3-0. This award was the third time in Vucevic’s career he got the Player of the Week Award. Vucevic finished the season with averages of 19.6 points and 10.9 rebounds in 65 games. That includes games in the 2020 NBA Bubble. Orlando would lose in the first round in 5 games against the Milwaukee Bucks. Vucevic averaged 28.0 points and 11.0 rebounds in those five games.
Vucevic continued to be the main factor for Orlando to start the 2020-21 season. On February 5, 2021, he scored a career-high 43 points and got season-high 19 rebounds in a 123-119 win over the Chicago Bulls, snapping their 4-game losing streak. Vucevic became the third player in Orlando Magic history to score at least 40 points and get 15 rebounds (Shaquille O’Neal, Dwight Howard). He appeared back in the All-Star game as a reserve for the second time in his career. Vucevic would average 24.5 points and 11.8 rebounds in his final 44 games on the Orlando Magic.
Chicago Bulls – 2021-Present
On March 25, 2021, Nikola Vucevic and Al-Farouq Aminu got traded to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Wendell Carter Jr., Otto Porter, and two future first-round picks (2021, 2023). On March 27, Vucevic made his Bulls debut, scored 21 points, and grabbed nine rebounds in a 120-104 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. He finished the season averaging 21.5 points and 11.5 rebounds in 26 games as a Bull.
In his first entire season (2021-22) as a Chicago Bull, he had his ups and downs but had a productive season. On February 5, 2021, he scored a season-high 36 points and grabbed 17 rebounds in a 122-115 win over the Indiana Pacers. Eight days later, he scored 31 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in a 106-101 over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Chicago was 16-7 when Vucevic scored more than 20 points, while they were 23-25 when he recorded less than 20 points. Vucevic finished the season with averages of 17.6 points and 11.0 rebounds in 73 games. Vucevic appeared in the postseason against the Milwaukee Bucks but lost in 5 games averaging 19.4 points and 12.4 rebounds, shooting 44% from the field.
Awards and Accolades
- 2× NBA All-Star (2019, 2021)
- 3 NBA Player of the Week Awards (2014, 2018, 2019)
- First-team All-Pac-10 (2011)
- Second-team All-Pac-10 (2010)
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