Nikola Vucevic makes his All-Star statement in December

Nikola Vucevic is on a tear right now, posting some of his best numbers of his career. With All-Star voting begun, Vucevic is beginning to make his case.

The first returns for the NBA All-Star Game in Toronto were released on Christmas Day. And the Orlando Magic were expectedly absent from the list of starters.

There was still a healthy amount of disrespect though.

That may not be the right word. The NBA world is still coming around to this young Orlando Magic team and fans are going to be a bit slower to recognize the names.

Still, Nikola Vucevic is playing much better than being out of the top-15. There is no sense that Vucevic will or should make the All-Star team when that time comes.

Right now, though he is sure playing like it.

“He showed everything,” Tobias Harris said. “He is playing really well, really efficient. We are feeding him. We know when we give him the basketball, he will get us a bucket. There are times of the game where he bails us out. That’s what big players do and he has been stepping up a lot for us lately.”

Vucevic added to that All-Star resume and perhaps even Eastern Conference Player of the Month for December with another stellar performance against the New Orleans Pelicans. He scored 28 points on 14-for-21 shooting, grabbing eight rebounds to go with seven assists.

It was as complete a game as you will see from a multi-talented player like Vucevic. The seven assists tied a career high and Vucevic proved once again to be a rock offensively, someone the team could turn to when things get stuck to make the right play.

In December, time and again, he has made the right play.

“I feel pretty confident now,” Nikola Vucevic said. “I have been playing well lately. A lot of it comes from my teammates, the way we play, getting a lot of easy looks. I just have to knock down the shot. They make my job so much easier when they move the ball. I just try to stay aggressive and make the right play.”

The numbers in December are astounding. Vucevic is averaging 19.4 points per game, 9.0 rebounds per game and 3.5 assists per game while shooting 55.8 percent from the floor. In December along, he is shooting 51.8 percent from 10-19 feet.

He is showing off a complete repertoire on offense right now and keeping defenses incredibly off balance.

Vucevic has always been very consistent. Consistent enough to be on the border of that coveted All-Star spot. Perhaps the Magic’s record had much to do with him falling short last year.

He struggled to find his fit early in the season but showed constant improvement.

Now, it seems he is hitting his stride and his confidence is growing and growing.

“Probably like six weeks ago, he wasn’t playing his best basketball,” Evan Fournier said. “It’s hard when you have a new system and a new coach. Right now, he’s our main focus offensively. Even defensively, he is doing a good job.”

The defense has certainly improved some, although the team still has a much worse defensive rating with Vucevic on the floor. It will continue to be a work in progress.

Vucevic’s offensive game though has continued to expand. His versatility at the center position is what makes him so valuable.

The passing has seemingly come out of nowhere this year. His seven assists on Monday were certainly an extreme example of his passing prowess, but it is another aspect of his game that has grown this year. And another reason for the Magic to give the ball to him.

Vucevic is averaging a career-high 2.8 assists per game. It seems modest, but coming from the center position it is absolutely critical. There are so few centers who are adept at passing out of the post and finding teammates.

Double teams are not coming for Vucevic and he is feasting on them, doing whatever he wants. Skiles said the team is curious as to why teams are not doubling him more — his improved passing might be a cause. But more importantly Vucevic always seems to make the right play.

“I attract more help when I take it to the basket,” Vucevic said. “It opens up a lot for the team. I try to make the right play. I think I have been more aggressive getting to the rim. It opens up a lot. I just try to make the right play and make the right read and it makes the matchup a lot easier when I know they are going to be in the right spots.”

Vucevic is playing extremely well. There is no getting around it. He is playing All Star good, but he may not make the team.

Skiles said the team is not likely to flyer and market Vucevic to other coaches. An All-Star berth is not something that should be begged for. It should be earned.

Vucevic put up great numbers last year — 19.3 points and 10.9 rebounds per game. Those numbers are down right now from last year’s marks. His All-Star candidacy is based on something else.

His team’s success.

But now that Vucevic has put in some strong individual play and is beginning to carry the Magic through some rough spots.

The Magic have seen Vucevic have good stretches, but maybe nothing like this. The wins keep coming and Vucevic keeps producing.

“Especially the fact we are winning, that makes it feel better,” Vucevic said. “I had last year when I had the period where I was posting big numbers, we weren’t winning. This year the fact that we are winning makes it feel a lot better.”

The All-Star decision is still at least a month away. The coaches still have to vote and make their decision.

Next: Orlando Magic better on defense against New Orleans Pelicans

Vucevic is certainly throwing his name into that hat.