Like Nikola Jokic or Luka Doncic, Nikola Vucevic was in Ljubljana on Saturday night for Goran Dragic's farewell. The Bulls pivot had the opportunity to discuss with Dirk Nowitzki and Chris Bosh the evolution of the pivot position, but also the impact of Victor Wembanyama on the game.
“I was talking to Bosh and Nowitzki about how things have changed. Bosh was one of the first power forwards to have to play center. Even though he didn't want to when he came to the Heat, he was forced to.” Vucevic remembers. “It was hard for me to defend a player like him. Today, very few centers play with their backs to the basket, classic centers… Now, they play almost like power forwards. As a center, you now have to know how to dribble, penetrate, shoot, pass, read the game… We talked about the disappearance of centers, but we have not disappeared. We have adapted to the new way of playing, and now we have changed the way centers are used and have an impact on the game.”
Wembanyama hides the basket from his opponents
Confirmation with Victor Wembanyama who, from his height of 2m24, can bring the ball up, shoot 3-pointers and challenge his defender in front of the circle. “Now that he's broken through, in a way, he's going to change the game. As the season went on, he progressed and adapted. He didn't know if he was a five, a four or a playmaker. Over time, he found himself.”
And Vucevic confided why it is difficult to defend the French pivot of the Spurs. “He's 7'2″, with the movements of a point guard. Physically, he's weaker than us, but he has the size and the wingspan. There were times when I got to the basket, I made a move that worked against everyone, I took the shot and he just blocked it. Because of him, you don't see the basket.”
