While they thought they had relaunched in 2021/22, with qualification for the playoffs (but elimination in the first round against the Bucks) following four years of absence from the postseason, the Bulls took a step back last season, finishing on the last step of the play-in last April…
The constitution of the DeRozan-LaVine-Vucevic trio, with or without Lonzo Ball as support, does not meet the expectations hoped for so far and the building threatens to collapse if the results do not improve in 2023/24. For Nikola Vucevicso it’s now or never.
“We know we can do better and we know we must do better. And we know that this is kind of our last chance to do something.”, did he slip during the World Cup with Montenegro. “When you step out of your comfort zone, you have to adapt. This is what allows us to evolve and understand things. Its not always easy. But that’s how life is (…) We can’t rest on our laurels, be satisfied with the situation in which we find ourselves.”
In the hot seat in the event of another failure?
The Chicago pivot is also aware of being one of the elements most regularly singled out by fans, even if he believes he has become a better player than in Orlando, even if he scores fewer points.
“I know in Chicago people have different opinions about me”he added. “But it’s not the same situation as in Orlando. I am not used in the same way. I don’t play the same way. Even though I felt like this year was one of my best, in terms of scoring, it wasn’t. But I take five or six fewer shots than in Orlando. We play with different weapons. It made me a better player in general, for sure, and it helped me mature, adapt better, play with different types of players in a different system.”
As he celebrates his 33rd birthday, Nikola Vucevic could also pay the price for another failed season, if Chicago were to start again on a new project. And this even if he has just returned for three years…
| Nikola Vucevic | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2011-12 | PHL | 51 | 16 | 45.0 | 37.5 | 52.9 | 1.7 | 3.1 | 4.8 | 0.6 | 2.2 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 5.6 |
| 2012-13 | ENT | 77 | 33 | 51.9 | 0.0 | 68.3 | 3.6 | 8.4 | 11.9 | 1.9 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 13.1 |
| 2013-14 | ENT | 57 | 32 | 50.7 | 0.0 | 76.6 | 3.3 | 7.7 | 11.0 | 1.8 | 3.0 | 1.1 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 14.2 |
| 2014-15 | ENT | 74 | 34 | 52.3 | 33.3 | 75.2 | 3.2 | 7.7 | 11.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 0.7 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 19.3 |
| 2015-16 | ENT | 65 | 31 | 51.0 | 22.2 | 75.3 | 2.7 | 6.2 | 8.9 | 2.8 | 2.7 | 0.8 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 18.2 |
| 2016-17 | ENT | 75 | 29 | 46.8 | 30.7 | 66.9 | 2.4 | 8.0 | 10.4 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 14.6 |
| 2017-18 | ENT | 57 | 30 | 47.5 | 31.4 | 81.9 | 1.8 | 7.4 | 9.2 | 3.4 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 16.5 |
| 2018-19 | ENT | 80 | 31 | 51.8 | 36.4 | 78.9 | 2.8 | 9.2 | 12.0 | 3.8 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 20.8 |
| 2019-20 | ENT | 62 | 32 | 47.7 | 33.9 | 78.4 | 2.3 | 8.6 | 10.9 | 3.6 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 19.6 |
| 2020-21 * | All Teams | 70 | 34 | 47.7 | 40.0 | 84.0 | 2.1 | 9.6 | 11.7 | 3.8 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 23.4 |
| 2020-21 * | ENT | 44 | 34 | 48.0 | 40.6 | 82.7 | 2.0 | 9.8 | 11.8 | 3.8 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 24.6 |
| 2020-21 * | CHI | 26 | 33 | 47.1 | 38.8 | 87.0 | 2.3 | 9.3 | 11.5 | 3.9 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 21.5 |
| 2021-22 | CHI | 73 | 33 | 47.3 | 31.4 | 76.0 | 2.0 | 9.1 | 11.0 | 3.2 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 17.6 |
| 2022-23 | CHI | 82 | 34 | 52.0 | 34.9 | 83.5 | 1.9 | 9.1 | 11.0 | 3.2 | 2.2 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 17.7 |
| Total | 823 | 31 | 49.6 | 34.8 | 76.4 | 2.5 | 8.0 | 10.5 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 17.0 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
