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Nikola Vucevic makes his case for the All-Star Game

ByPhilip Rossman-Reich|
ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 19: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic drives to the basket during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on January 19, 2019 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 19: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic drives to the basket during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on January 19, 2019 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)

Nikola Vucevic has turned in an All-Star season for the Orlando Magic. As we get closer to the day the All-Stars are announced, he makes his case.

The Orlando Magic’s surprising competitiveness in the Playoff race has brought at least one bit of national attention to the team.

Nikola Vucevic is a big reason the Magic have experienced any kind of success. He has had a career season and is the center for everything the Magic have accomplished. As few as they might be.

And he very well might be announced as a NBA All-Star this Thursday.

Nikola Vucevic is averaging a career-best 20.6 points per game, 12.0 rebounds per game and 3.8 assists per game. The Magic’s ability to run their offense through him in the post and the high post has freed up a lot of the Magic. It is safe to say that without Vucevic, the Magic would be among the very worst teams in the league.

The league has taken some notice of Vucevic’s play and there is a real chance he will be named a NBA All-Star when the coach’s vote for the reserves are revealed Thursday night.

TNT’s Inside the NBA crew all picked Vucevic to make the All-Star team. Outside of Charles Barkley of course.

There is a very clear argument for Vucevic to make the All-Star team. His numbers speak for themselves and are certainly at an All-Star level. He has had a career year and is someone every team has to contend with.

Vucevic is a pretty unassuming guy though. He is not going to go out and boast his own skills or do anything that will crash too many highlight reels. There will likely be a few national writers and fans a bit confused if his name gets called Thursday.

It has been a stellar season for Vucevic. He is worthy of an All-Star candidacy and bid. The Magic are certainly at least somewhat hopeful he will become the team’s first All-Star Game participant since Dwight Howard.

And with both Victor Oladipo and Spencer Dinwiddie‘s unfortunate injuries, those chances are becoming more and more likely.

Vucevic is not exactly a household name. And getting back to the All-Star Game would be very difficult for Vucevic. A lot of things — including those aforementioned injuries — will help him along the way. But Vucevic is deserving, even with the team’s struggling record.

He has been out there making his case lately too. He joined Sports Illustrated’s Crossover TV last week to say why he feels he is an All-Star:

Vucevic is not exactly out here shouting he is an All-Star. He knows likely his All-Star bid will be tied to the team’s success. And unfortunately for him, his team is struggling at this critical juncture in the season and in the voting process.

No doubt, Vucevic has come up short lately in these close games and that is putting a damper on some of his All-Star hopes.

But there are only so many players who are eligible and deserving in the Eastern Conference. Vucevic certainly deserves to be in the conversation even if the Magic are beginning to fade.

For Magic fans, it would be nice to have at least one player in the national spotlight during the All-Star Weekend. Last year, no players from the Magic participated in any of the events during the weekend festivities. And it is still unclear whether Mohamed Bamba or Jonathan Isaac crack the Rising Stars Challenge this year. That roster pool is announced Tuesday.

Vucevic is the main representative for the Magic. He has been that for the last seven years — for better or for worse.

As part of the All-Star blitz, Vucevic also joined the Woj Pod last week to discuss his season and playing for the Magic in recent years with the difficulty of going through a rebuild.

At the very least, making the All-Star team would be a nice reward for the center for his hard work. Especially heading into a free agency year. But as Vucevic tells Adrian Wojnarowski last week, he is not thinking so much about it.

All will be revealed Thursday night when the All-Star reserves are announced. Vucevic is probably not one to keep shouting and even in these interviews where he is forced to talk about himself, he is still focused on the team.

The Magic know they have their work cut out for them to make the Playoffs. They are four games back of the final spot now. And that is ultimately what matters to Vucevic. It is what he talks about constantly.

For a player who has struggled through six years, finally playing for something meaningful is a goal worth achieving and working toward. If he gets an All-Star bid in the process, then that is just a bonus.

He and the rest of the league will find out Thursday whether Vucevic gets in.