Like Facundo Campazzo or Milos Teodosic before him, Vasilije Micic joined the NBA in the second half of his career, after having shone a lot in Europe.
And he quickly discovered the “business” of the Great League, being traded during the season. The Serbian leader thus went from Oklahoma City to Charlotte during the “trade deadline” as part of the exchange around Gordon Hayward, which he seems to have experienced rather well.
“From the beginning, my journey in the NBA was difficult (it took several years to reach an agreement with the Thunder, who owned his rights), I simply decided to go there and see what the future had in store for me, he explains. “That's how it happened, and then this exchange also happened spontaneously, but it was good for me. I was very happy to have had this chance and, to be honest, since I got there I decided to take on every challenge that I could face, even though I was 29 years old, even if I had settled well in Europe. I just wanted that challenge, and so far it's going well. »
Vasilije Micic thus went from major starter at Anadolu Efes, where he won the Euroleague twice (2021 and 2022), to Oklahoma City, where he played off the bench for 3.3 points and 2.5 assists on average in 12 minutes. By being transferred to Charlotte, he found a starting place but the victories were then rare.
“Honestly, the team's results didn't bother me, because I was a newbie there,” he tempers like this. “Like I said, I was ready for anything. For me, every match was like a final, a final to prove myself, to challenge myself, and then at the end, honestly, I had no idea what it looked like from the outside, but I felt good after the season. »
A necessary adaptation
Obviously, the European game is not that of the NBA and the leader of the Hornets has noted the differences.
“Size and physique, especially of top players,” explains the two-time Euroleague Final Four MVP. “No player becomes a franchise player by accident. In my opinion, they must have one or two, or even three characteristics that are at the highest possible level. So that's something that, with the pace, is really hard to maintain. […] Some players are really focused on scoring, but I like to mix it up. And now in the NBA, since I understood that no one wants to pass the ball, I feel like I have the opportunity to adapt to the game because I think it's necessary to pass the ball. »
Vasilije Micic obviously plans other adaptations, to complete a full year as a future “sophomore”, and really make his place in the NBA, at the age of 30.
“I am not satisfied with my percentages. Honestly, I think the game is a very spontaneous thing, but maybe taking 3-point spot-ups to be more effective,” he admits. “Of course, defense is something that every white player has to improve because we are always targeted on defense, but I like to do my best, and if that's enough, then great. And I'm certainly not the worst. »
