He is one of Nikola Jokic's most loyal lieutenants among the Nuggets and especially Luka Doncic with the Sloveniabut Vlatko Cancar must currently recover from a serious left knee injury, which occurred in early August against Greece, in preparation for the World Cup.
Victim of a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, the 26-year-old winger has not yet announced a return date, but he has already set himself a goal: to participate in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
“ My goal is to compete in the Olympic Games » he announces Thus. “ For qualifying, I hope I can get the green light by then, but it's something I plan to do this summer. »
A blank season in the NBA?
Optimistic, Vlatko Cancar is therefore not guaranteed to see France next summer, because Slovenia is still not qualified for the competition, with an Olympic qualifying tournament (OQT) planned for Athens at the beginning of July.
For now, he must in any case concentrate on his rehabilitation, which will probably prevent him from playing with Denver during the 2023/24 season.
“ I just started running again and so far everything is going well » describes the reigning champion in this regard. “ I have no inflammation or swelling. I feel good, very good in fact, and I'm heading in the right direction. »
“Come back stronger” in 2024
A duty player (5.0 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 15 minutes last season), rarely held accountable by Michael Malone in the playoffs, Vlatko Cancar said he was already ready to “ come back stronger » from his injury last summer.
“ There is a lot of disappointment, but injuries are a normal part of sport and I have to look to the future with optimism. I am convinced that I will return to the field even stronger » warned the man who will reach the end of his contract in the summer of 2024, four years after his arrival in the league.
