BOSTON — For years, every time Nikola Vucevic would play in Boston, Celtics followers would cease him on the road and ask him to signal with the workforce. The 2-time All-Star had lengthy been linked to the Celtics, however nothing ever materialized. That didn’t cease followers from approaching him, although.
“At any time when we performed right here, truthfully, like, if I’m going stroll within the streets or no matter, go to eating places, individuals [would] come as much as me, being like ‘come to Boston,’” he stated at his introductory press convention on Friday morning.
Nearly 15 years into his NBA profession, and numerous ‘Vucevic-to-Boston’ rumors later, he lastly landed with the Celtics.
“So, some needs got here true,” he stated with a smile.
Vucevic acquired the decision on Wednesday afternoon, and was shocked to study he’d be heading to Boston. The Chicago Bulls heart had been linked to a plethora of groups forward of the NBA midseason commerce deadline, so when Bulls common supervisor Artūras Karnišovas broke the information, he was caught off guard.
However principally, he was thrilled, thrilled for the prospect to affix one of many East’s greatest groups and finally, to compete for a title. He famous he appreciated the European really feel of town, as nicely the eagerness of the followers, who he at all times felt revered the sport the Celtics’ opponents.
“I at all times appreciated Boston,” Vucevic stated, donning a black Celtics hoodie. “I at all times felt individuals right here have been very pleased with being from Boston.”
Nikola Vucevic has lengthy needed to affix a playoff workforce
Vucevic, for all of his regular-season accolades, has by no means been out of the primary spherical of the playoffs. The truth is, the 6’9 heart has solely appeared in 16 playoff video games in his total 1000+ recreation NBA profession.
He spent 9 years of his NBA profession with the Orlando Magic, the place he was named an All-Star twice, and the final 5 years in Chicago, the place he solely made the playoffs twice.
This season, Vucevic is averaging 16.9 factors, 9 rebounds, and three.8 assists. He’s taking pictures 50.5% from the sphere and 37.6% from three. He appeared in all however two video games for Chicago earlier than the commerce, and has been extraordinarily sturdy all through his profession, lacing up for no less than 73 video games yearly he’s spent in Chicago.
However, workforce success has not adopted particular person success, and the Bulls presently sit 4 video games under .500, out of the play-in.
“I’m very excited to have an opportunity to be within the playoffs once more, one thing that I feel each participant desires to get an opportunity to do, and make deep runs,” Vucevic stated. “Sadly, I haven’t had the prospect to try this in my profession. So, I’m excited to be right here, be round a championship workforce, round gamers which have performed it earlier than, the teaching employees as nicely, and the Celtics all through their historical past.”
And, it was apparent to anybody following basketball that the Montenegrin star was desperate to play for a aggressive workforce, one with playoff aspirations.
A Vucevic postgame interview from earlier within the 12 months went viral when he rolled his eyes at Matas Buzelis and Jalen Smith celebrating a 1-point win over the Washington Wizards after they almost blew a 20-point lead. Vucevic described his workforce as “smooth” within the clip.
Afterwards, he doubled down: “We simply didn’t play as much as NBA requirements.”
So, for Vucevic, realizing he’s becoming a member of one of many NBA’s elite groups has been energizing.
“It motivates me to even attempt to get to increased stage,” he stated. “I’m 35 , however I nonetheless really feel like have loads left within the tank, and I can nonetheless play at a excessive stage, and so to have a possibility to play within the playoffs, to play for one thing huge, I feel it’s further motivation for everyone, and I’m simply excited to have that chance. I’ve by no means actually had it in my profession, it’s one thing that I do want had occurred sooner, nevertheless it occurred now. I’m going to attempt to make one of the best of it and be one of the best model I can of myself and assist the workforce.”
Nikola Vucevic’s precise position with the Celtics stays to be seen
When he makes his Celtics debut on Friday evening in opposition to the Miami Warmth, he’ll be coming off the bench for simply the second time since 2012.
“Speaking to teach, he does prefer to be versatile with totally different lineups, totally different rotations, and it was one thing we talked about,” Vucevic stated. “And I informed him I used to be completely open to that. I completely perceive that my position can be totally different in what it was for many of my profession in Chicago and Orlando earlier than, and I used to be nice with that.”
“I’m right here to essentially assist in any method I can for this workforce to be one of the best we are able to and hopefully get a deep playoff run. So no matter that can require me to do, I’ll attempt to do it.”
Brad Stevens is optimistic that Vucevic will complement Celtics huge man Luka Garza and Neemias Queta, whereas getting ready the Celtics for playoff physicality.
Having three playable bigs will even give the Celtics insurance coverage in case one offers with damage.
“Nikola is an effective participant,” Stevens stated. “He’s been a great participant for a very long time. Clearly, the taking pictures and scoring get a whole lot of consideration. The passing, as you talked about, is an enormous issue for us, and it’s one thing that we actually like in bigs.”
Because the newly-acquired Celtics huge man sat on the Auerbach Middle podium, all of it felt full-circle.
“Through the years, [there were] a whole lot of talks with me being linked to the Celtics,” he stated. “And a whole lot of instances, after I was in Boston, simply across the metropolis, I heard followers telling me to return right here. And so it occurred now, and I’m very completely happy — and I’m simply gonna attempt to do one of the best I can to assist the workforce.”
“I at all times appreciated Boston,” he stated. “I at all times felt individuals right here have been very pleased with being from Boston, [you can] simply really feel it. Large sports activities city. Clearly, when Brady was right here, I like to look at the Patriots and them, nevertheless it’s an amazing metropolis. Very European discipline as nicely. Tons to see.”
