Josh Robbins: Nikola Vucevic on his All-Star Weekend experience: “It was fun — really, definitely a great experience. And I’ll tell you, I could do that every year.”
Nikola Vucevic Rumors
All NBA Players
Position: C
Born: 10/24/90
Height: 7-0 / 2.13
Weight:240 lbs. / 108.9 kg.
Salary: $12,750,000
Born: 10/24/90
Height: 7-0 / 2.13
Weight:240 lbs. / 108.9 kg.
Salary: $12,750,000
Josh Robbins: Nikola Vucevic describing (sarcastically) what it was like to have his 2-month-son attend the All-Star Game: “He told me after the game I played well, so that was great. He was really glad the way I rebounded the ball and ran the floor. He was like, ‘Yeah, great job, Dad.’ “
And what I have heard is that the Mavericks’ interest in Vucevic has been overstated. I don’t get the sense that they plan to go after him. Improving the team’s overall athleticism and foot speed, in addition to the very pressing need for more shooting, have been two of Dallas’ recent priorities.
Michael Singer: Nikola Jokic draws Nikola Vucevic in the first round. Vooch interrupted Joker’s press conference this morning at media. Joker loved it. “That’s my brother.”
Vucevic can pride himself on being the first player to represent Montenegro in an NBA All-Star game. Naturally, it’s something of great importance for him. “It’s an honor. I’m the first player ever from there to be in an All-Star game,”Vucevic said. “We’re such a small country, we have 650.000 people. So for me to have the opportunity to represent my country and make my people proud is a huge honor. Especially the kids. I know there are a lot of kids that look up to me. I’ve seen a lot of text messages from people there. In my hometown, they put a billboard with my picture.”
As public address announcer Paul Porter introduced that night’s “hometown hero,” a longtime Daytona Beach Fire Department employee, Vucevic kept peeking toward the row behind the scorer’s table. There, Magic chief communications officer Joel Glass and director of communications George Galante watched the announcement of the 2018-19 Eastern Conference All-Star reserves on a TV monitor. Careful not to disrespect the hometown hero, Vucevic kept averting his eyes from Glass and Galante. Then, all of a sudden, he heard Glass shout an emphatic “Yes!” Vucevic looked over again and saw Glass and Galante smiling. Galante held his fist held high in the air. Vucevic had to be sure. “Yes?” he mouthed. “You’re in!” Galante yelled.
In that overwhelming moment, on the verge of tears of joy, Vucevic had to share his happiness with two of the most important people in his life. He turned left, glanced into Section 113 across from the Magic bench, and signaled to his mom and dad, Ljiljana and Borislav Vucevic. They beamed. Now, two weeks later, with the 2019 NBA All-Star Game set for Sunday in Charlotte, N.C., Nikola still delights in his good fortune — that he earned an All-Star nod, that his parents experienced his selection with him, that the Magic are in a playoff chase and, most important of all, that he and his wife, Nikoleta, have a 2-month-old son.
