Orlando Magic Daily
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Nikola Vucevic is already among Orlando Magic’s all-time best players

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 21: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic looks on during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on January 21, 2019 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 21: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic looks on during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on January 21, 2019 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic, Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
ORLANDO, FL – FEBRUARY 7: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic is defended by Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the game at the Amway Center on February 7, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. The Magic defeated the Timberwolves 122 to 112. 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 Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

Nikola Vucevic has spent most of his career criticized and struggling with defeat. With some records in sight, he deserves a place among the best.

There was always something missing from Nikola Vucevic‘s Orlando Magic resume. It was the most obvious thing missing after six years of putting up solid numbers and still facing these doubts.

He had not won.

Nikola Vucevic understood this as well as anyone else. He was a near-All-Star in 2016 and a constant double-double producer, but team success eluded him. And that is ultimately what mattered to him, as it would any player.

He faced criticism that his numbers were empty. That it was his defense, admittedly not his best trait, holding the entire team back. He was the team’s best player and shouldered a lot of responsibility for the team’s constant struggles for much of his seven years in Orlando.

The Magic lacked all direction and Vucevic suffered most for it. He was the good soldier who did his work and put up his numbers with little complaint.

As much as anyone, he wanted to win in Orlando. This had become his home. The place where he began building his family. It would be hard to envision him going anywhere else.

Each trade deadline seemed to bring another wave of rumors and pushes to move on from Vucevic, perhaps as a symbolic gesture of moving on from this forgettable era itself.

Vucevic kept putting in his work. He continued to post double-doubles and climb the leaderboards in Magic history.

Then he finally had his breakthrough. An All-Star appearance, a playoff run and a stellar season — 20.8 points, 12.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. It helped him earn a new four-year contract and cement his place in the team’s near-term future as they try to make the playoffs again.

It also cemented Vucevic’s place in Magic history. No matter how anyone slices it or what happens next, Vucevic should go down as one of the very best players to play with the Magic.