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Nikola Vucevic is quite familiar with high-profile NBA trades, having been involved in the four-team transaction that transferred him to the Orlando Magic while sending Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers back in 2012.
Yet, that deal pales in comparison to the monumental move that brought Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks to the Lakers—a trade that many consider one of the most significant in the league’s history.
In an interview with Meridian Sport, the seasoned Montenegrin center shared his reaction upon hearing the news of the trade that shook the basketball community last February.
“I went to bed early that evening,” Vucevic recalled. “When I woke up the next morning, my phone was buzzing with around 100 new messages! My first thought was, I must have been traded. Where will I go now? What’s happening? But then I realized it wasn’t about me. Even if I silenced my phone, my wife would still reach me. The fact that she didn’t call immediately reassured me. I checked the messages and saw it was about Luka! I hurried to see what Shams had reported, and I couldn’t believe my eyes! I was astonished, just like the rest of the world!”
Now in his 14th season in the NBA, Vucevic expressed his confusion over the Mavericks’ decision to trade Luka to the Lakers for Anthony Davis.
“I don’t get the rationale behind trading someone as talented as Luka. He’s just 25 years old, showing continuous improvement, and he led the team to the Finals last year—this season, they could have been contenders again… What truly illustrates Luka’s exceptional talent is how Anthony Davis now seems merely average and is hardly mentioned, despite his future Hall of Fame status. What frustrates me in all of this is how Luka is portrayed, with talk of him being unfit and comments about his weight. It’s not right for a franchise to treat a player, who has given so much and means so much to the fans, in such a manner… It’s unprofessional.”
Despite his feelings about the trade, Vucevic believes Doncic is entering an excellent scenario in Los Angeles.
“I understand that leaving was tough for him; he had a deep affection for Dallas. However, he’s the ideal player for Los Angeles and the Lakers. He possesses charisma and exceptional skills both on and off the court. Once everything calms down, he recovers fully from his injury, and they construct a team around him – it’s going to be fantastic. Many legendary players have graced that franchise, and he certainly belongs among them.”
Vucevic has been a member of the Chicago Bulls since 2021 and continues with the team even as notable players like DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine have departed.
“I have a year and a half left on my contract. We’ll see what the Bulls decide this summer. Regarding trade discussions, I try to steer clear of that; it’s out of my hands. This year, there have been a few more specific trade rumors than in the past, but nothing materialized. I’m focused on the current season.”
He recently achieved a significant milestone, surpassing 10,000 career rebounds in the NBA, placing him 48th on the all-time leaderboard and making him the highest-ranked player from the former Yugoslavia.
“I wasn’t even aware of how close I was to that milestone; I don’t really pay attention to it. They announced it during the game, and of course, it feels good to reach that achievement. While the number is impressive, it signifies how consistently I’ve performed at a high level. As a center, I strive to meet expectations in that role, particularly with rebounding. It’s a crucial aspect of defense, sealing the possession after a missed shot. I’ve always worked hard at that, and I’m glad the stats reflect my efforts. I hope to keep increasing that number.”
He also commented on another notable trade involving Serbian guard Bogdan Bogdanovic, who moved from the Atlanta Hawks to the Los Angeles Clippers.
“It’s a fantastic organization with a top-notch coach and exceptional players. They’ve set ambitious goals, which is excellent for Bogdan. Plus, Los Angeles is a great city with lovely weather. While he had a good situation in Atlanta, aside from this season, it’s always better for him to pursue more serious ambitions, and the Clippers are playing well. The key is that he finds happiness there.”
Vucevic shared his passion for European basketball, particularly for Crvena zvezda, a club he follows closely.
“I try to watch nearly every game. I definitely keep up with them. They’re having a terrific run in the EuroLeague and are even contending for a top-six spot. But in that league, you can never be certain. The competition is fierce. I hope they can maintain their position in the top six, which would be a significant accomplishment. They’ve also secured the Cup, so despite facing numerous injuries—especially to Bolomboy, which has been a major setback—it’s been a solid season.”
He refrained from commenting on the potential for the NBA to establish an independent league in Europe but focused on the influence of European players in the NBA.
“The NBA has recognized for a while that something special is brewing in Europe, but it has become more evident recently. They likely see that they can create mutual benefits for both the NBA and European basketball. The number of European players in the league is on the rise, and many of them are among the best. One standout is certainly Jokić, but there are others like Luka and Giannis, who all play significant roles. The NBA has started to ponder why and how this trend is occurring. Initially, they ventured into Africa, and now they’re considering Europe. But the NBA is always looking to innovate, to stay ahead, to progress and refine… Whether that’s always beneficial remains to be seen. However, it generally turns out well,” Nikola Vucevic concluded.
