The All-Star who has returned home: “Barça is a great club, but I prefer Madrid for everything they have done”

Nikola Vucevic He feels the excitement of returning home after five years in Chicago and a few months in Boston. Returning to Orlando, Vucevic feels the nostalgia of returning to the place where he was so happy for a decade but also the excitement of knowing that the best memory he has of the Magic when everything is over may still be yet to come.

“I’m very happy to have returned, it’s really exciting. One of the reasons was the team, having a good team and having the opportunity to do something special,” admits the center of 36 years old, who could not get past the first round in his first stage in Orlando between 2012 and 2021, the post-era Dwight Howard.

“I have also returned because of the time I spent here and I think it is a good place for my family and for me too,” Vucevic points out to MD.

These Magic have made three consecutive playoff appearances with the duo Paolo Banchero & Franz Wagner, although they have not passed the first round. Having a center of Vucevic’s experience and influence – capable of playing in the paint but also shooting and passing – is a great asset for a contender like Orlando. Even having passed the best days of the Montenegrin.

“I felt like I could fit in well here as a player and help them. It’s a different role than the one I had the first time I was here. I was one of the best players and the team depended a lot on me, they were some of my best years, I went twice All-Stara simply different role at that time. Now it’s a smaller role coming off the bench and helping the team in different ways. But I can also help with my experience and my leadership, being a little better, helping young people and things like that,” he explains. Vooch.

“Just with the experience of playing, I think it is natural that, as your career evolves and changes, you adapt to different situations,” highlights the Balkan center, substitute for Wendell Carter Jr. in the rotation. Sean Sweeney the new coach of the Magic.

Nikola Vucevic’s contract expires in June 2027 and, although Orlando is and always will be his home in the United States, the Montenegrin will not truly complete his return to his lifelong home until he returns to Europe. So, many might think that it is time to return to the Old Continent as a free agent after more than 15 years in the NBA. And to play Euroleague.

The Montenegrin spoke about whether he sees himself playing in the top continental competition once his long time in the best league in the world ends.

“I’ve never thought much about it, I think it all depends on the situation I have here and the roles I can have here. And if it’s not something that suits me, it would depend on whether I want to continue playing or not. I would have to see what works best for my family as well. So I don’t know, I haven’t thought about it much,” explains Vucevic, who retired from the Montenegro national team last year.

The interior moved to the United States when he was 16 and has never played in the Euroleague, although he did play in the Eurocup with the Buducnost Podgorica in 2011 during the lockout. Although it seems that the Euroleague awaits him with open arms.

“I had some offers from the Euroleague this summer, but I was really focused on the NBA. I had a couple of offers from the NBA and I ended up choosing this one. For now, I think I still contribute something here, but we’ll see. I have a year of contract here and we’ll see how I feel at the end of the season. You never know, it could be NBA Europe or Euroleague,” the Montenegrin also said, remembering that next year there could be two competitions in the Old Continent if there is no agreement between the NBA and the Euroleague to organize a single competition.

However, if the time comes, Nikola Vucevic decides to play in Europe, the Balkan player has clear preferences regarding teams.

“I said that if I were going to come to the Euroleague the three teams I would like are Red Star, Olympiacos and Real Madrid,” admitted Vucevic, who first showed these preferences in an interview with Skweek.

“Barça is incredible, a great club, a great history, both teams are very great, but I always give a little preference to Madrid. I don’t know, it’s just the history, everything they’ve done. It’s a great club, but those are three teams that I always like to watch. I always like to watch Olympiacos, Bartzokas is a great coach, they have a great coach. Athens is a great city with fantastic fans too. I’m a fan of Red Star and that would also be special,” he highlights. Vooch.

The Montenegrin center is still putting up some very good numbers in the NBA. Although he is not playing much this season at the moment -only 8.5 minutes-, last year he averaged 15 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 28 minutes with 49% in field goals and 37% in triples with 4 attempts.

Vucevic would be a luxury for any Euroleague -or NBA Europe- team, and who knows if he could be Real Madrid if he decides to leave the NBA. TO Edy Tavares There could be tough competition.