Nikola Vucevic names two EuroLeague powerhouses he’d play for outside Crvena Zvezda
Nikola Vucevic was rumored to be headed to Crvena Zvezda this summer, but he instead chose to keep playing in the NBA and returned to the Orlando Magic, where he’s enjoyed some of his best seasons. He first rose to prominence in Orlando between 2012 and 2021, becoming a two-time All-Star before coming back as a veteran presence.
Where he’d play in Europe if not for the NBA
In a recent interview Vucevic imagined a world where he didn’t make it in the NBA and picked the European teams he’d join. Unsurprisingly, Crvena Zvezda topped his list—he’s a fan. Beyond that, he mentioned Real Madrid and Olympiacos. He respects Real Madrid’s long history and what the club represents, and he’s impressed by Olympiacos’s recent success, their style of play and passionate fanbase. He also noted the friendly ties between Olympiacos and Crvena Zvezda.
Thoughts on Crvena Zvezda, coaching and teammates
Vucevic praised Crvena Zvezda’s offseason moves, saying the club added useful pieces while keeping much of last season’s core, which he believes is important for continuity. He singled out players like Butler and Nwora as high-quality additions, praised Motley for giving them a strong center, and called Ojeleye a great team player. He also congratulated Nikola Kalinic on his long career and welcomed his transition into an assistant coaching role.
When it comes to coaching, Vucevic doesn’t see himself as a head coach anytime soon. He’s more drawn to working with young players—helping them develop on and off the court, teaching the discipline and lifestyle needed to be a pro. For now he wants to keep playing as long as possible, and he plans to take some time off after retiring to figure out what’s next.
Vucevic spent last season with the Boston Celtics after a trade from the Chicago Bulls, and he commented on the Jaylen Brown trade this summer. He said there were hints the move might happen, driven in part by the challenge of building a roster around huge contracts and new collective bargaining rules. He didn’t sense major locker-room issues while he was there and was as surprised as anyone when the trade was finalized, but he acknowledged that a decade-long run together can naturally lead to change.
On the news that LeBron James will be teaming up with Brown in Philadelphia, Vucevic said LeBron’s basketball IQ and experience will make him a major influence even if his role looks different than in years past. He expects LeBron’s judgement, anticipation and leadership to be a big help as the new squad figures things out.
Asked about favorite teammates, Vucevic kept it broad—he’s been lucky to have many close teammates across different stops. He mentioned being tight with Evan Fournier in Orlando, Jrue Holiday and Andre Iguodala in Philadelphia, and earlier bonds with players like Jameer Nelson, Hedo Turkoglu, DJ Augustin and Khem Birch. In Chicago he pointed to relationships with DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and Alex Caruso. Overall, he said he’s never really had a problematic teammate and values the bonds he’s built off the court as much as on it.
