Tag: nikola vucevic

Bulls sign Nikola Vucevic to contract extension

The Chicago Bulls have signed center Nikola Vučević to a contract extension.

Vucevic’s extension is reportedly a three-year, $60 million deal.

“During his time in Chicago, Nikola has proven that he is a special player both on and off the court,” said Artūras Karnišovas, Executive Vice President – Basketball Operations. “He has produced at an elite level since we acquired him and will remain an integral part of our foundation moving forward. Nikola’s willingness to do whatever is asked of him to help us win, while also being an established veteran leader for our group, makes him a valuable component of the culture of our organization. He is a consummate professional and tremendous teammate, which plays a big role in making us an attractive destination for other players. We are excited to have him continue to be part of our journey.”

Per the Chicago Tribune, “the Bulls’ decision to trade for Vučević has been a point of contention since he arrived in Chicago. The acquisition cost the Bulls a pair of first-round draft picks, Otto Porter Jr. and Wendell Carter Jr. And while Vučević has been an upgrade at center, the Bulls have relatively little to show for it — one winning season and one playoff win.”

“I’m excited to continue my journey as a Chicago Bull,” said Vučević. “Since I have arrived in Chicago, everyone in the organization has been incredibly welcoming to my family and me. I am motivated more than ever to achieve our mutual goals as a team. I want to thank the Reinsdorf family and Artūras for continuing to believe in me. I also want to thank Bulls fans for the constant support, you guys are the best part about playing in Chicago. We will work harder than ever to bring success to the city of Chicago.”

Vučević, 6-10, 260, averaged 17.6 points, 11.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 33.5 minutes while playing in all 82 games (82 starts) for Chicago in 2022-23. He finished third in the NBA in double-doubles (51) a year ago, becoming the fourth player in Bulls history with 50-plus double-doubles in a season (A. Gilmore, C. Oakley, P. Gasol). The Montenegro native and former USC product was the only NBA player to make at least 100 three-pointers (121) and grab 800-plus rebounds (903) last season and is the only Bulls player to ever do so. Vučević ranked second in the league with 903 total rebounds, while leading the NBA with 744 defensive rebounds. His 744 defensive boards marked the sixth-highest season total in Bulls history, including the highest since 1997-98 (D. Rodman).

Bulls center Nikola Vucevic has reportedly tested positive for COVID-19

The 8-3 Chicago Bulls are off to a terrific start this season, but they’ll reportedly be without their starting center for the (hopefully) very short term. Via ESPN.com:

Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic tested positive for COVID-19 and entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols on Thursday, sources told ESPN.

The Bulls listed Vucevic in the protocols, but the positive test means he will be sidelined for 10 days or once he has two negative PCR tests in a 24-hour period.

Magic trade Nikola Vucevic and Al-Farouq Aminu to Bulls for Wendell Carter Jr., Otto Porter Jr., draft picks

The Orlando Magic have acquired center Wendell Carter Jr., forward Otto Porter Jr. and two future first round draft picks from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for center Nikola Vučević and forward Al-Farouq Aminu.

“Anytime you trade a player like Nikola (Vučević), it is a tough decision to make,” said Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman. “’Vooch’ will go down as one of the best players to ever wear a Magic uniform and we can’t thank him enough for all the contributions he made to the organization, both on and off the court.”

“Wendell (Carter Jr.) is a talented, young player, who is just starting to blossom,” Weltman added. “We are excited not only to add him to our team, but to watch him continue to develop into the player we think he can become. We’re happy to welcome Wendell and Otto (Porter Jr.) to the Magic family.”

Carter Jr. (6’10”, 268, 4/16/99) has played in 32 games (25 starts) this season with Chicago, averaging 10.9 ppg., 7.8 rpg. and 2.2 apg. in 24.7 minpg., while shooting .512 (129-252) from the floor. He has led (or tied) the Bulls in rebounding 12 times and in assists twice. Carter Jr. has scored in double figures 18 times and 20+ points twice, including a season-high 23 points on Jan. 8 @ L.A. Lakers. He has pulled down 10+ rebounds nine times, including a career-high 17 rebounds on Jan. 6 @ Sacramento, and recorded a team-high seven double-doubles.

Originally selected in the first round (seventh overall) of the 2018 NBA Draft by Chicago, Carter Jr. has appeared in 119 career NBA regular season games (112 starts), all with the Bulls, averaging 10.8 ppg., 8.1 rpg. and 1.7 apg. in 26.5 minpg., while shooting .509 (492-966) from the floor. He was named to the U.S. Team for the 2020 NBA Rising Stars, but did not play due to injury.

Carter Jr. played and started in 37 games during his only collegiate season (2017-18) at Duke University, averaging 13.5 ppg., 9.1 rpg., 2.0 apg. and 2.05 blkpg. in 26.9 minpg., while shooting .561 (179-319) from the floor. He finished second all-time among Duke freshmen in rebounds (335), blocked shots (76) and double-doubles (16). Carter Jr. was a Second Team All-ACC selection and a unanimous pick to the ACC All-Freshman Team.

Carter Jr. will wear #34 with the Orlando Magic.

Porter Jr. (6”8”, 228, 6/3/93) has played in 25 games (six starts) this season with Chicago, averaging 9.9 ppg., 5.5 rpg. and 2.0 apg. in 21.6 minpg., while shooting .400 (38-95) from three-point range and .838 (31-37) from the free throw line. He has led (or tied) the Bulls in scoring once and in rebounding four times. Porter Jr. has scored in double figures 12 times and 20+ points twice, including a season-high 28 points on Dec. 31 @ Washington. He has pulled down 10+ rebounds twice and had two double-doubles.

Originally selected in the first round (third overall) of the 2013 NBA Draft by Washington, Porter Jr. has appeared in 438 career NBA regular season games (301 starts) with Washington and Chicago, averaging 11.0 ppg., 5.0 rpg., 1.5 apg. and 1.14 stlpg. in 26.5 minpg., while shooting .404 (589-1,459) from three-point range. He has also played in 31 career NBA playoff games (18 starts), averaging 10.0 ppg., 6.3 rpg., 1.6 apg. and 1.26 stlpg. in 29.8 minpg.

Porter Jr. will wear #22 with the Orlando Magic.

Vučević (7’0”, 260, 1024/90) played and started in all 44 games this season with Orlando, averaging 24.5 ppg., 11.8 rpg. and 3.8 apg. in 34.1 minpg., while shooting .406 (117-288) from three-point range and .827 (91-110) from the free throw line. Originally selected in the first round (16th overall) of the 2011 NBA Draft by Philadelphia, he has played in 642 career NBA regular season games (581 starts) with Philadelphia and Orlando, averaging 16.7 ppg., 10.3 rpg. and 2.6 apg. in 30.5 minpg., while shooting .497 (4,621-9,294) from the floor.

Vučević was acquired by Orlando on Aug. 10, 2012 as part of a four-team, 12-player trade. He played in 591 career games with the Magic (566 starts) from 2012-21, averaging 17.6 ppg., 10.8 rpg. and 2.8 apg. in 31.8 minpg., while shooting .499 (4,490-9,903) from the floor. Vučević leaves as the Magic’s all-time leader in field goals made (4,490) and ranks among the franchise’s all-time leaders in double-doubles (2nd, 354), rebounds (2nd, 6,381), points (3rd, 10,423), blocked shots (3rd, 550), games played (4th, 591), minutes played (4th, 18,791), steals (6th, 537) and assists (8th, 1,668). He was named an NBA All-Star in 2019 and 2021.

Aminu (6’9”, 220, 9/21/90) played in 17 games (14 starts) this season with Orlando, averaging 5.5 ppg., 5.4 rpg., 1.7 apg. and 1.00 stlpg. in 21.6 minpg. Originally selected in the first round (eighth overall) of the 2010 NBA Draft by the L.A. Clippers, he has played in 705 career NBA regular season games (445 starts) with the Clippers, New Orleans, Dallas, Portland and Orlando, averaging 7.6 ppg., 6.0 rpg. and 1.2 apg. in 25.0 minpg.

Nikola Vucevic scores 43 points in Magic win over Bulls

Magic center Nikola Vucevic had himself a night. Via the Orlando Sentinel:

The Orlando Magic went to Nikola Vucevic early and the veteran center just kept delivering.

Vucevic scored a career-high with 43 points and hit two crucial free throws with 2.6 seconds to play as the Orlando Magic held off the Chicago Bulls for a 123-119 win Friday night at Amway Center.

Evan Fournier finished with 21 points while Cole Anthony had 17 points and James Ennis had 14 for Orlando (9-14). Anthony also recorded a career-high nine assists as the Magic snapped a four-game losing streak.

Vucevic is putting up big number this season. He’s averaging a career-high 22.5 points per game, averaging 11.2 rebounds, which is one more than usual for his career, and doing his part. But the Magic as a squad have been below average on both ends of the floor so far in 2021.

NBA Players of Week: Nikola Vucevic and Anthony Davis

 

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Magic center Nikola Vucevic has been named the NBA’s Eastern Conference Player of the Week, and Pelicans forward-center Anthony Davis the Western Conference Player of the Week for games played between November 11-18, 2018.

It marks the second time that Vucevic has won the award during his career and the first time a Magic player has won the award since Vucevic earned it for the period ending Mar. 30, 2014.

During four games last week, Vucevic averaged 27.8 ppg., 10.5 rpg., 4.0 apg. and 1.25 stlpg., while shooting .581 (43-74) from the floor and .471 (8-17) from three-point range. He led Orlando to a 3-1 record with wins over Philadelphia, the L.A. Lakers and New York. Vucevic tallied three double-doubles and scored 28-or-more points in three consecutive games, becoming the first Magic player since Dwight Howard accomplished the feat Mar. 1-5, 2012.

Vucevic has played and started in all 17 games this season, averaging a team-high 20.4 ppg., a team-high 10.8 rpg., 3.6 apg., 1.12 stlpg. and 1.12 blkpg. in 30.5 minpg., while shooting a team-best .556 (144-259) from the floor, .452 (19-42) from three-point range and .813 (39-48) from the free throw line. He has led (or tied) the Magic in scoring seven times, in rebounding 13 times and in assists twice.

Davis led the Pelicans to a 3-1 week behind averages of 34.3 points (ranked 2nd in the NBA), 14.0 rebounds (4th in the NBA) and 2.0 blocks (T-5th in the NBA). Davis helped lead the Pelicans to a win at Toronto – handing the Raptors just their second loss of the season, and their first loss at home, behind 25 points and a season-high 20 rebounds – a 19-point comeback victory against New York on Nov. 16, registering a season-high 43 points to go with 17 rebounds and five assists, and capped off the week with 40 points, eight rebounds and a career-high-tying eight assists, while shooting 20-of-21 at the free throw line, Nov. 17 vs. Denver. Davis finished the week as one of just five players (at least 50 field goal attempts) to shoot at least .500 from the floor, .400 from three-point range and .850 from the free throw line.

This marks the fifth time Davis has earned Player of the Week honors during his career, and the first time during the 2018-19 season, becoming the first player in franchise history to earn multiple Player of the Week honors in the same season since Chris Paul in 2008-09.

Davis is currently averaging 27.5 points (ranked fifth in the NBA), 12.7 rebounds (ranked tied for sixth in the NBA) and 2.8 blocks (ranked second in the NBA) on the season for the Pelicans.

 

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