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NBA London 2016: Nikola Vucevic Q&A on the Orlando Magic & NBA London

By jamesplowright

ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 16: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic goes to the basket against the Charlotte Hornets on December 16, 2015 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 16: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic goes to the basket against the Charlotte Hornets on December 16, 2015 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Q): This year I watched you at the NBA Africa game in Johannesburg, a lot of the reasoning behind it was for coaching for younger people, how important was it for you to be part of that trip and what did you take away from it?

Vucevic: It was important for me because it was the first time the NBA had a game there and it was a great thing that the NBA did to give the fans a chance to see some of the players play there and also, for me, it was a great experience to go there and meet some NBA players that I only got to watch on the court and to play against them and I had a chance to meet some of them off the court and spend some time with them. I think that was a great experience.

Also I’ve never been to South Africa, and I really wanted to go there and meet a new culture, new people. It was really a great experience. I’m really happy I went there, it was really well organized by the NBA and we had a really great warm welcome from everybody there, the fans and everybody who was involved in the game so it was really great for me. I really enjoyed it, and I’m looking forward to going back there.

(Q): Did you manage to get your one-on-one practice session with Hakeem Olajuwon?

Vucevic: I didn’t actually. He only did one session and I couldn’t make that one because I had something else on so I didn’t get a chance to work out with him. But I did have the honor to go up against him in the game. He scored but that’s O.K. I’ll take that because it was a really great experience to go up against one of the best players to ever play the game and especially at my position, one of the best centers.

Dwight Howard, Houston Rockets, Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic
Jan 14, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) drives to the basket as Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) defends during the second half at Amway Center. Orlando Magic defeated the Houston Rockets 120-113. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

(Q): Dwight Howard recently praised you and he’s also very praising of your leadership abilities, do you feel that following in his footsteps and Shaquille O’Neal’s that you’ve got a responsibility or a duty or does it inspire you playing for a team with such great centers in the past?

Vucevic: I don’t look at it as a responsibility just because I had great ‘big men’ before me [in Orlando]. It does inspire me to know that there are so many good big men that played for Orlando in the past and I do my best to help the team and be remembered like the two guys before me. But I have a long way to go before I can achieve what these two guys have for the team but it’s great when you hear that people compare you to such great players and it really means a lot to me. So I just try to keep improving and hopefully I can leave  a legacy here that’s close to what they did.

Next: A tight Eastern Conference?