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| Nikola Vucevic |
Some NBA players don’t get enough attention after being
traded for a superstar. Orlando Magic C Nikola Vucevic is one of those players.
Last summer, the blockbuster deal that involved the Lakers, Nuggets, 76ers, and
Magic sent 12 players to new teams. Of course, the headliner was C Dwight
Howard going to the Lakers who sent C Andrew Bynum to the 76ers. After falling
out of the rotation, Vucevic saw that he was traded to the Magic for a new
start and would likely be the starting center.
Today the
second year man out of USC is averaging 11.6 points per game and is 3rd
in the league with 11.2 rebounds per game. Vucevic has better numbers than
Bynum, who has not played a game and 17 points and 15 rebounds in the Magic
113-103 victory on December 2nd against Howard and the Lakers. He is
also 6th in the league in double doubles with 20.
On New
Year’s Eve, the Magic took on the defending champion Miami Heat and Vucevic was
about to make a statement to the league. Although his team lost in overtime,
Nikola had the best game of his young career as he scored a career high 20
points and brought down a franchise record 29 rebounds. After finally getting
the recognition that he deserves, Vucevic has not taken his foot off of the
motor as he has averaged 15.0 points per game and 14.3 rebounds per game since
the start of the New Year.
Sometimes teams
get players in trades that turn out to be superstars. I am not saying that
Vucevic is quite there yet, but if he can play like this for the next couple of
years, he will have Orlando fans chanting, “ Nikola, Nikola.”
image was used from zimbio.com
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