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2017-18 Orlando Magic Player Evaluations: Nikola Vucevic

By Zach Palmer

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 10: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic follows through on his jump shot during the NBA game between the Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on March 10, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. The Clippers defeated the Magic 113-105. 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. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 10: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic follows through on his jump shot during the NBA game between the Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on March 10, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. The Clippers defeated the Magic 113-105. 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. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images) /
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Best Game of 2018

Oct. 20 vs. Brooklyn: 41 Points, 17/22 FGs, 6/8 3PT FGs, 12 rebounds, 3 assists

Hello darkness, my old friend. This game perfectly exemplifies Nikola Vucevic’s career with the Orlando Magic. Vucevic puts up monster numbers against a bad team and the Magic lose.

One might wonder how one could put up the numbers Vucevic did in this game and still have his team lose. Well, the answer is defense. And as has been the case with Orlando and Vucevic for six years, the team’s opposing big men bullied the Magic in the pick and roll.

This has been the story for years with Vucevic as much as any major Magic player.

But this should not take away from the fact Vucevic had a masterful offensive performance in this game, especially with Aaron Gordon out and Elfrid Payton leaving the game at halftime.

Vucevic started the game out strong, hitting a bunch of threes early on. Being the smart player Vucevic is, he let those threes set up the rest of his game.

Vucevic murdered the Brooklyn Nets in the pick and roll and the pick and pop. When Vucevic popped early and knocked down those threes he recognized the Nets started playing up on him and began to roll. With that, the Nets genuinely had to play a guessing game that left them scrambling all game.

Heck, in this game Vucevic even used pump fakes from the 3-point line to set up drives. It truly was a masterful offensive performance from Vucevic. It displayed exactly how useful Vucevic could be offensive if he was able to be a consistent 3-point shooter.

But the game ended in a loss which pretty much sums up Vucevic as a player. At a certain point, a player’s career has to become about wins and losses more than individual numbers. Vucevic has long been past that point.