BOSTON — For years, whenever Nikola Vucevic would play in Boston, Celtics fans would stop him on the street and ask him to sign with the team. The two-time All-Star had long been linked to the Celtics, but nothing ever materialized. That didn’t stop fans from approaching him, though.
“Whenever we played here, honestly, like, if I go walk in the streets or whatever, go to restaurants, people [would] come up to me, being like ‘come to Boston,’” he said at his introductory press conference on Friday
morning.
Almost 15 years into his NBA career, and countless ‘Vucevic-to-Boston’ rumors later, he finally landed with the Celtics.
“So, some wishes came true,” he said with a smile.
Vucevic got the call on Wednesday afternoon, and was surprised to learn he’d be heading to Boston. The Chicago Bulls center had been linked to a plethora of teams ahead of the NBA midseason trade deadline, so when Bulls general manager Artūras Karnišovas broke the news, he was caught off guard.
But mostly, he was thrilled, thrilled for the chance to join one of the East’s best teams and ultimately, to compete for a title. He noted he liked the European feel of the city, as well the passion of the fans, who he always felt respected the game the Celtics’ opponents.
“I always liked Boston,” Vucevic said, donning a black Celtics hoodie. “I always felt people here were very proud of being from Boston.”
Nikola Vucevic has long wanted to join a playoff team
Vucevic, for all of his regular-season accolades, has never been out of the first round of the playoffs. In fact, the 6’9 center has only appeared in 16 playoff games in his entire 1000+ game NBA career.
He spent nine years of his NBA career with the Orlando Magic, where he was named an All-Star twice, and the last five years in Chicago, where he only made the playoffs twice.
This season, Vucevic is averaging 16.9 points, 9 rebounds, and 3.8 assists. He’s shooting 50.5% from the field and 37.6% from three. He appeared in all but two games for Chicago before the trade, and has been extremely durable throughout his career, lacing up for at least 73 games every year he’s spent in Chicago.
But, team success has not followed individual success, and the Bulls currently sit 4 games below .500, out of the play-in.
“I’m very excited to have a chance to be in the playoffs again, something that I think every player wants to get a chance to do, and make deep runs,” Vucevic said. “Unfortunately, I haven’t had the chance to do that in my career. So, I’m excited to be here, be around a championship team, around players that have done it before, the coaching staff as well, and the Celtics throughout their history.”
And, it was obvious to anyone following basketball that the Montenegrin star was eager to play for a competitive team, one with playoff aspirations.
A Vucevic postgame interview from earlier in the year went viral when he rolled his eyes at Matas Buzelis and Jalen Smith celebrating a 1-point win over the Washington Wizards after they nearly blew a 20-point lead. Vucevic described his team as “soft” in the clip.
Afterwards, he doubled down: “We just didn’t play up to NBA standards.”
So, for Vucevic, knowing he’s joining one of the NBA’s elite teams has been energizing.
“It motivates me to even try to get to higher level,” he said. “I am 35 , but I still feel like have a lot left in the tank, and I can still play at a high level, and so to have an opportunity to play in the playoffs, to play for something big, I think it’s extra motivation for everybody, and I’m just excited to have that opportunity. I’ve never really had it in my career, it’s something that I do wish had happened sooner, but it happened now. I’m going to try to make the best of it and be the best version I can of myself and help the team.”
Nikola Vucevic’s exact role with the Celtics remains to be seen
When he makes his Celtics debut on Friday night against the Miami Heat, he’ll be coming off the bench for just the second time since 2012.
“Talking to coach, he does like to be flexible with different lineups, different rotations, and it was something we talked about,” Vucevic said. “And I told him I was totally open to that. I totally understand that my role would be different in what it was for most of my career in Chicago and Orlando before, and I was fine with that.”
“I’m here to really help in any way I can for this team to be the best we can and hopefully get a deep playoff run. So whatever that will require me to do, I’ll try to do it.”
Brad Stevens is optimistic that Vucevic will complement Celtics big man Luka Garza and Neemias Queta, while preparing the Celtics for playoff physicality.
Having three playable bigs will also give the Celtics insurance in case one deals with injury.
“Nikola is a good player,” Stevens said. “He’s been a good player for a long time. Obviously, the shooting and scoring get a lot of attention. The passing, as you mentioned, is a big factor for us, and it’s something that we really like in bigs.”
As the newly-acquired Celtics big man sat at the Auerbach Center podium, all of it felt full-circle.
“Over the years, [there were] a lot of talks with me being connected to the Celtics,” he said. “And a lot of times, when I was in Boston, just around the city, I heard fans telling me to come here. And so it happened now, and I’m very happy — and I’m just gonna try to do the best I can to help the team.”
“I always liked Boston,” he said. “I always felt people here were very proud of being from Boston, [you can] just feel it. Big sports town. Obviously, when Brady was here, I like to watch the Patriots and them, but it’s a great city. Very European field as well. Lots to see.”
