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Recently returned from a trip to the United States, Dusan Vukcevic has been keeping a close eye on his son’s progress with the Washington Wizards. He shared his observations about Tristan Vukcevic’s development.
“He’s in a great place. He’s found his role within the team, participating in their training programs and road games,” Dusan told Serbian media outlet Meridian Sport, discussing the current situation of the 21-year-old forward/center. “The NBA makes things easier for its players. That’s what makes it the premier league.”
As his second season in the NBA unfolds, Tristan has seen his playing time increase, resulting in elevated averages of 5.5 points and 2.4 rebounds per game.
“For the past two months, he’s been getting more playtime. He dealt with some minor injuries, particularly knee discomfort, but he’s now fully healed. In the U.S., the approach differs from Europe; here, if you’re in pain, they don’t just say, ‘Take some Voltaren and get on with it,’ or ‘Did you break your arm? You’ll be fine!’ You really need to be completely healed from any injury before you’re allowed to take the court. In Europe, players tend to push through pain in various areas—back, hands, legs. I’ve seen this for 30 years, and it becomes a habit,” Dusan noted, contrasting the medical protocols of NBA teams with those in European clubs.
“Hopefully, he’ll receive a new contract soon,” Dusan expressed his hopes for his son’s future, “They compete nearly every day, which mostly allows for individual practice. The gym remains open until three in the morning, providing players with top-notch facilities.”
Dusan’s most recent coaching position was with Peristeri. After collaborating with numerous esteemed coaches throughout his career, he is now adding Vassilis Spanoulis to that esteemed list, hoping to replicate a stellar playing career from the sidelines.
“His mind is solely focused on basketball, day in and day out. No matter how much you plan, he’s already two steps ahead of you. He had that same awareness on the court. It was a remarkable experience working with him,” Dusan reflected on his time under the current head coach of AS Monaco and the Greek national team. “We were all in a constant state of learning.”
Returning to coaching could be on the horizon, but for now, it’s not a priority for Vukcevic.
“I wanted to spend more time with my children,” he stated, “I stepped away from coaching to focus on other important areas of life. We’ll see what the future holds; I’m still relatively young.”
