All eyes are on Nikola Vucevic once again as he tries to lead Montenegro into the World Cup. He will have to show he can raise his game again.
Everything revolves around Nikola Vucevic.
Every conversation, every criticism, every frustration, every skill and every success. Nikola Vucevic is at the center of attention.
He was the big part of the Orlando Magic’s offseason, forcing the team to stop until his free agency was resolved. On the team, he was the center of attention as the focal point of the offense.
That made him the focal point of criticism when he struggled in the playoffs.
That performance made plenty question whether he was worth the contract he would soon get. Never mind his relatively consistent production, boosted by a coach who trusts him to take on the central responsibility within the Magic’s offense.
All eyes are always on Vucevic. Everything he does seems to get attention in one way or another.
And like with the Magic, all eyes will be on Vucevic as he tries to help Montenegro advance in the FIBA World Cup.
Vucevic is the only NBA player on Montenegro’s team. The relatively young nation is playing its first intercontinental tournament since breaking away from Serbia, the favorite now to upset the U.S. and win the gold medal.
Vucevic has put in his time with Montenegro for several summers — averaging 14.5 points per game and 8.0 rebounds per game in the 2017 Eurobasket tournament.
Those are hardly impressive numbers. But Vucevic has struggled at times to find his fit in international basketball. There have been disagreements with the coach in the past too. Montenegro, like the Magic, never really featured Vucevic.
It is still not clear how Montenegro will use Vucevic. But he will again be at the center of attention. He will again be a player teams target and test.
If Montenegro is going to pull off an upset and advance to the second round — in a group that features Greece, Brazil and New Zealand — Vucevic will have to raise his game to a new level.
Through the exhibition games in the run-up to the World Cup, Vucevic’s numbers have been relatively pedestrian. He seems able to score around 15 points per game fairly consistently and provide a steady presence on the glass. His field goal percentage is in line, if not a bit below, his season averages.
It seems in FIBA for his national team, he will again hang around the perimeter and look to pop. With the ability to use zone defenses, centers have to be willing to be more physical in international play. That is not completely Vucevic’s forte.
But more than that, without consistent guard play, Vucevic is going to have to carry a larger load. He will have to fight for better position and work to get others open. He will carry a very large responsibility for the team, even if it is not reflected completely in his numbers.
Not helping matters is point guard Nikola Ivanovic is dealing with an injury that could keep him out of Sunday’s opening game against Greece and perhaps a bit longer.
Montenegro were heavy underdogs entering the World Cup any way — the nation is ranked 28th in the world entering a 32-team tournament. Entering the tournament, the team showed its potential in taking leads against Nigeria and France in exhibition games before losing them in the fourth quarter. But those ultimately ended in losses too. It is very possible Montenegro returns home 0-3 and simply happy to have qualified for the tournament to begin with.
Vucevic certainly takes his criticism for not being the central figure late in games. And again, the question remains about his ability to rise to the occasion.
Those questions will all be at the center of attention as Montenegro plays in the first round of this tournament.
Little of that will have bearing on what he does with the Magic. Although it may again allow some to question the limits of Vucevic’s game.
Vucevic has established himself in the NBA. The Magic will rely on him again when the season comes around to anchor their team. His place in the NBA is still uncertain — an All-Star this year, but someone few would pick to be a perennial participant in the league’s showcase team.
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He is good enough to be among the most versatile centers in the league — able to post up, stretch to the 3-point line and pass the ball at a high rate. He is not the rim-protecting center that is the ideal in the league, but he gives his effort and has shown improvement.
There will always be the questions surrounding Vucevic. With his big contract in tow, the Magic’s first playoff appearance in his seven-year run with the team, the pressure is on him to repeat his All-Star year. The Magic will almost certainly need his consistency on offense to return to the playoffs.
All eyes are on him. The defense’s eyes are all on him. And after watching the Toronto Raptors completely eliminate him from the playoffs, that attention brings concern. He might very well see the same kinds of double teams in the World Cup as defenses focus on taking him out of the game.
Vucevic did his best to eliminate many of the weaknesses that had fans longing to move on after his first six years with the team. He is still not the best defensively. He still struggles to draw fouls on his post game and perhaps favors his jumper over ducking into the paint.
Vucevic is more physical than his critics likely will allow. But he is not a behemoth looking to push players around in the post. In FIBA especially, this is a weakness.
But as always, Vucevic will soldier on. As always, Vucevic will do whatever he can to carry and lift his team.
The tournament may again highlight some of Vucevic’s limitations as a leading man.
Or it could be the moment that he shows he can take his game up another level, helping Montenegro shock the tournament and advance further than expected.
Either way, all eyes are once again on Vucevic. His team needs him to be successful and he needs to rise up for his team to make it once again.