Nikola Vucevic has been unable to join his teammates while recovering from his hand injury. That has him frustrated but patiently waiting for his return.
Look at the Orlando Magic bench and there are some noticeable absences. It is not just the guys that are out of uniform. There are not even the same number of guys on the bench in sports jackets and suits.
The Magic have faced a war of attrition this year with injuries befalling the roster. The latest is Jonathon Simmons being out day to day with back spasms. But the last major injury came when Nikola Vucevic broke a bone in his hand a few weeks ago in Washington against the Washington Wizards.
That will have Vucevic out 6-8 weeks, likely bringing him back just before the NBA trade deadline. According to Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel, Vucevic was re-evaluated by doctors Friday after receiving a X-ray.
He has not been on the bench with the team since the injury, doctors keeping him away as a precaution to prevent any further injury. That part has been frustrating for Vucevic, as he told Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel last week.
"“It’s definitely hard,” Vucevic said. “I get bored a lot just sitting at home and not doing much and having to watch my teammates compete every night. Not being able to help them is the hardest part.“You’re part of the team, but you’re not out there with them in practice, doing all the things that make this fun,” Vucevic added. “That’s the hardest part. You just have to find a way to still be useful and do what you can to come back as quick you can.”"
Vucevic is still rehabbing and trying to keep his conditioning up, but there is not a lot he can do to get better other than to let it heal. Results of that X-ray have not returned and Vucevic is out for the time being.
Vucevic though is back with the team and getting work on the court, according to Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel. He joined the team on its current road trip starting in Dallas.
Nikola Vucevic is weeks away from playing while his surgically repaired left hand heals. But he's on the Magic's road trip and is doing conditioning work here on the court in Dallas.
— Josh Robbins (@JoshuaBRobbins) January 9, 2018
Despite hand-wringing over the team’s future, the Magic have certainly missed him.
Vucevic is averaging 17.4 points per game and 9.3 rebounds per game, returning to production the team saw earlier in his tenure with the Magic. He stepped his game up even further with the injuries the team faced. He put in monster scoring efforts as he tried to carry his team.
Since his injury on Dec. 23, the Magic have posted a 102.6 offensive rating and 108.5 defensive rating since Vucevic’s injury. Both are below the team’s season-long averages. The Magic have won just once in the four games Vucevic has missed.
That is not to say Vucevic’s return would transform the Magic into a winning team. But he is almost certainly missed.
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And Vucevic appears to be missing his time with the team too.