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Nikola Vučević Headshot

Chicago Bulls | #9 | Center

Nikola

Vučević

PPG

18.0

RPG

10.5

APG

3.3

PIE

12.6

HEIGHT

6'10" (2.08m)

WEIGHT

260lb (118kg)

COUNTRY

Montenegro

LAST ATTENDED

Southern California

AGE

33 years

BIRTHDATE

October 24, 1990

DRAFT

2011 R1 Pick 16

EXPERIENCE

13 Years

6'10" | 260lb | 33 years

DRAFT

2011 R1 Pick 16

BIRTHDATE

October 24, 1990

COUNTRY

Montenegro

LAST ATTENDED

Southern California

EXPERIENCE

13 Years

Player Bio

PROFESSIONAL CAREER

2019-20 SEASON: Appeared and started in 62 games with Orlando, averaging a team-high 19.6 ppg., a team-high 10.9 rpg. and 3.6 apg. in 32.2 minpg.…Ranked seventh in the NBA in rebounding, eighth in double-doubles and tied for 32nd in scoring…Led (or tied) the team in scoring 21 times, in rebounding a team-high 49 times and in assists ten times…Scored in double figures a team-high 60 times, 20+ points a team-high 36 times and 30+ points twice, including a season-high 30 points on Nov. 17 vs. Washington and Mar. 2 vs. Portland…Had a team-high 41 double-doubles…Had 10+ rebounds 42 times, including a season-high 24 rebounds on Jan. 6 vs. Brooklyn…Had at least one blocked shot 33 times and two-or-more blocks 11 times, including a season-high three blocked shots three times, the last on Feb. 6 @ New York…Had at least one steal 34 times and two-or-more steals 12 times, including a career-high six steals on Dec. 20 @ Portland…Named NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the period ending Nov. 17, 2019…Third time he has won the award during his career (Mar. 30, 2014; Nov. 18, 2018)…During three games (Nov. 13-17), averaged 21.7 ppg., 14.0 rpg., 4.0 apg. and 1.33 blkpg. in 34.4 minpg., while shooting .542 (26-48) from the floor and .667 (6-9) from three-point range…Recorded his 300th career NBA double-double on Jan. 3 vs. Miami…Scored his 9,000th career NBA point on Jan. 18 @ Golden State…Recorded his 4,000th career NBA field goal made on Feb. 8 vs. Milwaukee…Grabbed his 6,000th career NBA rebound on Mar. 6 @ Minnesota…Passed Jameer Nelson (8,184) for fourth on the Magic’s all-time scoring list on Oct. 30 vs. New York and passed Tracy McGrady (8,298) for third all-time on Nov. 10 vs. Indiana…Passed Donald Royal (1,130) for tenth on the Magic’s all-time free throws attempted list on Nov. 5 @ Oklahoma City…Passed Hedo Turkoglu (497) for sixth on the Magic’s all-time games played list on Nov. 17 vs. Washington, passed Darrell Armstrong (502) for fifth all-time on Dec. 20 @ Portland and passed Pat Garrity (513) for fourth all-time on Jan. 13 @ Sacramento…Passed Donald Royal (872) for tenth on the Magic’s all-time free throws made list on Dec. 18 @ Denver…Passed Tracy McGrady (452) for sixth on the Magic’s all-time steals list on Dec. 20 @ Portland…Passed Hedo Turkoglu (16,233) for fourth on the Magic’s all-time minutes played list on Jan. 15 @ L.A. Lakers…Passed Dwight Howard (4,034) for second on the Magic’s all-time field goals made list on Aug. 9 @ Boston…Missed 11 games (Nov. 23-Dec. 13) due to a right lateral ankle sprain…Also played and started in five playoff outings, averaging 28.0 ppg., 11.0 rpg. and 4.0 apg. in 36.9 minpg….Scored 30+ points three times during the postseason, including a career playoff-high 35 points in Game #1 on Aug. 18 @ Milwaukee…Became the fifth player in franchise history to record consecutive 30+ point games during the playoffs (O’Neal, Hardaway, McGrady, Howard) and just the fourth player in team history to have three 30+ point games in a single playoff series (O’Neal, Hardaway, McGrady)…It was the sixth time it has ever occurred in team history…Had 10+ rebounds four times during the playoffs, including a playoff career-high 15 rebounds in Game #5 on Aug. 29 @ Milwaukee.

PROFESSIONAL CAREER: Appeared in 598 regular season games (537 starts) during his NBA career with Philadelphia and Orlando, averaging 16.1 ppg., 10.2 rpg. and 2.6 apg. in 30.3 minpg….Shot .499 (4,185-8,386) from the floor during his career…Has 326 career double-doubles…NBA All-Star in 2018-19…Named NBA’s Eastern Conference Player of the Week three times (periods ending Mar. 30, 2014, Nov. 18, 2018 and Nov. 17, 2019)…Also appeared in 11 career playoff games (ten starts), averaging 17.9 ppg., 8.7 rpg. and 3.2 apg. in 30.5 minpg.

2018-19: Played and started in 80 games with Orlando, averaging a team-high and career-high 20.8 ppg., a team-high and career-high 12.0 rpg., a career-high 3.8 apg., 1.11 blkpg. and a team-high 1.01 stlpg. in 31.4 minpg., while shooting a team-high .518 (701-1,354) from the floor and .364 (84-231) from three-point range…Named to the NBA All-Star Game for the first time in his career…Tallied four points (2-2 FG), five rebounds, two assists and one steal in 12 minutes (11:38) of action in the mid-season classic…Ranked third in the NBA in double-doubles, eighth in rebounding, tied for 24th in blocked shots, ranked 27th in scoring and tied for 28th in field goal percentage…Named NBA’s Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the period ending Nov. 18 (second time in career)…During four games (Nov. 12-18), averaged 27.8 ppg., 10.5 rpg., 4.0 apg. and 1.25 stlpg. in 33.6 minpg., while shooting .581 (43-74) from the floor and .471 (8-17) from three-point range…Finished fifth in voting for NBA Most Improved Player Award…Led (or tied) the team in scoring a team-best 36 times, in rebounding a team-best 66 times and in assists 17 times…Scored in double figures a team-high 78 times, 20+ points a team-high 46 times and 30+ points five times…Had a team-high and career-high 60 double-doubles…Had 10+ rebounds a team-high 61 times, 15+ rebounds 17 times and 20+ rebounds twice…Tallied 27 points and 20 rebounds on Mar. 17 vs. Atlanta, his seventh career 20+ point/20+ rebound game…Recorded second triple-double of NBA career with 27 points, 13 rebounds and a career-high 12 assists on Oct. 20 @ Philadelphia…Had at least one blocked shot 51 times and two-or-more blocks 26 times…Had at least one steal 55 times and two-or-more steals 24 times…Recorded 3,000th career NBA field goal made on Oct. 19 vs. Charlotte…Scored his 7,000th career NBA point on Nov. 14 vs. Philadelphia and 8,000th career NBA point on Feb. 26 @ New York…Played in his 500th career NBA game and pulled down his 5,000th career NBA rebound on Jan. 18 vs. Brooklyn…Passed Dwight Howard (6,988) for third all-time on the Magic’s career field goals attempted list on Mar. 30 @ Indiana…Passed Brian Shaw (1,061) for ninth all-time on the Magic’s career assist list on Dec. 4 @ Miami…Passed Horace Grant (415) for fourth all-time on the Magic’s career blocked shot list on Dec. 15 vs. Utah…Missed one game (Dec. 19) due to personal reasons and one game (Apr. 10) due to a stomach virus…Also played and started in five playoff outings, averaging 11.2 ppg., 8.0 rpg., 3.0 apg. and 1.00 blkpg. in 29.5 minpg.

2017-18: Played and started in 57 games with Orlando, averaging 16.5 ppg., a team-high 9.2 rpg., 3.4 apg. and 1.09 blkpg. in 29.5 minpg.…Led (or tied) the team in scoring 16 times, in rebounding a team-best 37 times and in assists five times…Scored in double figures 50 times, had 20+ points 18 times and 30+ points three times, including a career-high 41 points on Oct. 20 @ Brooklyn (17-22 FG, 6-8 3FG)...Became the 12th player in Magic history to score 40+ points in a game and just the fourth player (O’Neal, McGrady, Howard) to record 40+ points and 10+ rebounds in a game…Had team-high 29 double-doubles…Pulled down 10+ rebounds 29 times…Passed Shaquille O’Neal (228) for second-most 10+ rebound games in Magic history on Dec. 13 vs. L.A. Clippers…Tallied his first career triple-double with 31 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists on Dec. 9 @ Atlanta…Missed 24 total games due to injury: missed 23 games (Dec. 26-Feb. 14) due to a fractured second metacarpal on his left hand and one game (Apr. 6) due to low back tightness…Also did not play once (Apr. 4) due to rest.

2016-17: Appeared in 75 games (55 starts) with Orlando, averaging 14.6 ppg., a team-high 10.4 rpg., 2.8 apg. and 1.01 stlpg. in 28.8 minpg.…As a starter, averaged 14.7 ppg., 10.8 rpg., 2.7 apg. and 1.04 stlpg. in 29.1 minpg….Tied for 11th in the NBA in rebounding, ranked 15th in double-doubles and tied for 33rd in blocked shots (0.99 blkpg.)…Led (or tied) the team in scoring 19 times, in rebounding a team-best 45 times and in assists ten times…Scored in double figures 62 times, had 20+ points 26 times and 30+ points once...Had team-high 38 double-doubles…Pulled down 10+ rebounds 45 times…Moved into second place on the Magic’s all-time rebounding list on Apr. 10 @ Chicago, passing Shaquille O’Neal (3,691)…Missed seven total games due to injury - missed three games (Dec. 10-14) due to a sore low back and four games (Mar. 5-10) due to a sore right Achilles.

2015-16: Played in 65 games (60 starts) with Orlando, averaging a team-high 18.2 ppg., a team-high 8.9 rpg., 2.8 apg. and a team-high 1.08 blkpg. in 31.3 minpg., while shooting a team-high .510 (533-1,046) from the floor…As a starter, averaged 17.8 ppg., 8.9 rpg., 2.8 apg. and 1.07 blkpg. in 31.8 minpg….Ranked 19th in the NBA in rebounding, 20th in FG percentage, tied for 28th in scoring and ranked 34th in blocked shots…Led (or tied) the team in scoring a team-best 28 times, in rebounding a team-best 29 times and in assists five times…Scored in double figures 61 times, had 20+ points 25 times and 30+ points once...Hit the game-winning jumper as time expired on Nov. 11 vs. L.A. Lakers and Feb. 7 vs. Atlanta...Scored 20+ points in seven consecutive games from Dec. 18-30…Averaged 19.4 ppg., 9.0 rpg. and 3.5 apg. during the month of December, joining Shaquille O’Neal as only Magic players ever to average 17+ ppg., 9+ rpg. and 3+ apg. in any calendar month…Recorded his 4,000th career NBA point in the second quarter on Dec. 28 vs. New Orleans…Had team-high 29 double-doubles…Had 12 20+ point/10+ rebound contests…Recorded a career-high six blocked shots on Jan. 22 vs. Charlotte…Missed 17 total games due to injury - missed three games (Nov. 6-9) due to a bone bruise, right knee, 13 games (Mar. 7-29) due to a strained right groin and one game (Apr. 11) due to a sore right leg.

2014-15: Played and started in 74 games with Orlando, averaging a team-high 19.3 ppg., a team-high 10.9 rpg. and 2.0 apg. in a career-high 34.2 minpg., while shooting a team-high .523 (631-1,206) from the floor…Ranked fifth in the NBA in double-doubles, sixth in rebounding, ninth in FG percentage, tied for 16th in scoring and tied for 25th in minutes played…Led (or tied) the team in scoring 25 times, in rebounding a team-best 53 times and in assists twice…Scored in double figures a team-high 73 times, had 20+ points 30 times and 30+ points six times…Hit pair of game-tying free throws to force overtime with 11.9 seconds left on Nov. 7 vs. Minnesota…Tallied 10+ rebounds 45 times, 15+ rebounds 11 times and 20+ rebounds once…Recorded a career-high-tying 18 defensive rebounds on Oct. 28 @ New Orleans…Recorded a team-high 45 double-doubles…Missed eight games due to injury: missed two games (Dec. 2-3) due to back spasms, four games (Dec. 5-12) due to a low back sprain and two games (Mar. 6-8) due to a sore left ankle.

2013-14: Appeared and started in 57 games with Orlando, averaging 14.2 ppg., a team-high 11.0 rpg., 1.8 apg. and 1.05 stlpg. in 31.8 minpg….Shot a team-high .507 (353-696) from the floor…Ranked 25th in the NBA in field goal percentage…Named NBA’s Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the period ending Mar. 30, 2014, after averaging 22.7 ppg., 14.3 rpg., 2.0 apg., 1.00 blkpg. and 1.00 stlpg. in 35.3 minpg., while shooting .585 (31-530 from the field in three outings…Led (or tied) the Magic in scoring ten times, in rebounding a team-best 45 times and in assists once…Scored in double figures 46 times, had 20-plus points 11 times and 30-plus points once…Pulled down 10-plus rebounds 40 times, 15-plus boards nine times and 20-plus rebounds twice…Recorded a team-high 36 double-doubles, including two 20-point/20-rebound efforts…Ejected on Mar. 19 @ Phoenix after receiving two technical fouls…Missed 25 total games due to injury - six games (Dec. 3-9, Jan. 2-4) due to a sprained left ankle, 12 games (Jan. 8-28) due to a concussion and seven games (Apr. 4-16) due to a sprained left Achilles.

2012-13: Played and started in 77 games with Orlando, averaging 13.1 ppg., a team-high 11.9 rpg., 1.9 apg. and a team-high 1.03 blkpg. in 33.2 minpg….Shot .519 (461-889) from the floor…Ranked second in the NBA in rebounding, third in double-doubles, tied for 21st in field goal percentage and tied for 33rd in blocked shots…Finished fourth in voting for the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award…Led (or tied) the Magic in scoring nine times, in rebounding a team-best 60 times and in assists once…Scored in double figures 56 times, had 20-plus points ten times and 30-plus points once…Pulled down 10-plus rebounds 56 times, 15-plus boards 18 times and 20-plus rebounds four times, including a career-high 29 rebounds on Dec. 31 vs. Miami…Broke the franchise record for most rebounds in a game (28, O’Neal, Nov. 20, 1993 @ New Jersey)…Recorded a team-high 46 double-doubles, including four 20-point/20-rebound efforts…Logged a career-high 47 minutes twice, the last time on Jan. 7 @ Portland…Participated in the 2013 BBVA Rising Stars Challenge at NBA All-Star Weekend, tallying 15 points, four rebounds and one assist in 20 minutes...Missed five games due to injury/illness: Missed one game (Mar. 20) due to illness and four games (Mar. 22-29) due to a mild concussion.

2011-12: Played in 51 games (15 starts) during his rookie campaign for Philadelphia, averaging 5.5 ppg. and 4.8 rpg. in 15.9 minpg….Logged three minutes in one playoff game on May 16 vs. Boston, recording one point and one rebound…In 15 starts, averaged 4.3 ppg. and 4.5 rpg. in 14.9 minpg….Ranked among all NBA rookies in rebounding (T-6th), blocked shots (T-6th) and field goal percentage (.450, 8th)…Led (or tied) the Sixers in scoring four times and in rebounding nine times…Scored in double figures 11 times…Missed five games due to injury – once (Jan. 4) due to a left lumbar back strain and four times (Jan. 23-28) due to a left knee quad strain...Had 10 DNP-CDs.

CAREER TRANSACTIONS: Selected by Philadelphia in the first round (16th overall) of the 2011 NBA Draft…Traded from Philadelphia to Orlando as part of a four-team, 12-player deal (Aug. 10, 2012)…Signed contract extension with Orlando (Oct. 24, 2014)…Re-signed as a free agent by Orlando (Jul. 6, 2019).

BEFORE NBA

COLLEGE CAPSULE: Played 87 career games (67 starts) during three seasons at the University of Southern California, averaging 11.1 ppg., 8.0 rpg., 1.1 apg. and 1.09 blkpg. in 27.7 minpg., while shooting .509 (367-721) from the field…As a junior (2010-11), named to the All-Pac 10 First Team and was tabbed All-America Fourth Team by FOXSports.com…Played and started in 34 games, averaging 17.1 ppg., 10.3 rpg., 1.6 apg. and 1.38 blkpg. in 34.9 minpg….Led the Pac-10 in rebounding, while finishing third in points and fourth in blocked shots…Shot .505 (215-426) from the floor…First Trojan to average a double-double since 1994-95, and the first player in school history to capture the Pac-10 rebounding title in consecutive seasons…During his sophomore season (2009-10), played and started in 30 games, averaging 10.7 ppg., a Pac-10-leading 9.4 rpg., 1.2 apg. and 1.30 blkpg. in 32.3 minpg….Named the 2009-10 Pac-10 Most Improved Player…Played in 23 games (three starts) as a freshman (2008-09), averaging 2.6 ppg. and 2.7 rpg. in 11.0 minpg.

PERSONAL LIFE

Full name is Nikola Vučević...Pronounced KNEE-coal-ah VOOCH-uh-vitch…Born in Switzerland and raised in Belgium, where his father played professional basketball…Father, Borislav, played professionally for 24 years and was a member of the Yugoslavian National Team, playing alongside Drazen Petrovic…Mother played professional basketball in Boston…Family moved to Montenegro when he was a teenager, and he represented Montenegro at the 2009 U-20 European Championship…Attended a year of prep school at Stoneridge Prep in Simi Valley, CA prior to enrolling at USC…He and his wife, Nikoleta, have two sons, Filip and Matija…Contributed to the compensation fund that was created by the Magic's ownership group, the DeVos family (who pledged $2 million) for Magic, Amway Center, Lakeland Magic and Orlando Solar Bears hourly workers for games and time missed during the COVID-19 suspension of 2019-20 seasons…For the Thanksgiving holidays in 2019 to assist low income neighborhoods in the Osceola County School District through the "Basket Brigade" program, made a donation to sponsor 165 food baskets…Participated with “Team World” during first-ever NBA game played in Africa, which took place in Johannesburg, South Africa on Aug. 1, 2015…Delivered gifts and visited with pediatric patients at Florida Hospital for Children in 2015 and 2016…Served Thanksgiving breakfast to residents at the Coalition for the Homeless in 2016…During the 2016 holidays, took youth from the Central Florida Boys & Girls Clubs on a shopping spree, in conjunction with Pepsi…Visited young patients at Florida Hospital for Children to spread some holiday cheer in 2016…Assisted the Magic and UnitedHealthcare staff in assembling 12,500 Hi-Five Kids Packs for Second Harvest Food Bank in spring of 2017…Was one of five finalists for the Magic Johnson Award in 2018-19, presented by the Pro Basketball Writers Association to the player who best combines excellence on the basketball court with cooperation and dignity in dealing with the media and the public… Assists in the fundraising efforts of the Magic’s charitable arm, the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation (OMYF), participating in various charity events in 2018-19…Enjoys listening to house/techno music…Would like to have a career in broadcasting when his playing days are over…Fan of the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles…You can follow him on Twitter: @NikolaVucevic.