15.06.2026. 08:12h
The great Michael Jordan spent 15 seasons in the NBA, and the great Nikola Vucevic will surpass the Flying Michael and enter the 16th season in the strongest basketball league in the world.
The Montenegrin basketball giant said in an interview with “Vijesti” that his plan is to stay in the United States for the rest of his career.
In the previous days, numerous portals wrote about the future of Vucevic in the NBA league, some even wrote about a potential return to Europe, but that was far from the truth.
“My plan is to be in the NBA, to stay there for the rest of my career. I expect that there will be an offer, that something will open up. I plan to stay,” Vucevic clearly explained to “Vijesti”.
The transfer window in the NBA starts on July 1st, then everything will be clearer.
“When the transfer window starts, I will wait to see what offers I get, which clubs will be interested, and then I will decide what to do next. For now, I don’t have much information, what is mentioned in the media is, for some reason, speculation. I am waiting for the first of July, when the transfer window starts, then I will decide.”
THERE WERE GOOD MOMENTS AND WEAKER MOMENTS IN BOSTON
The previous season was marked by a trade – Vucevic left the Chicago Bulls after five years and arrived at the famous Boston Celtics. Before leaving, he made sure to surpass the famous Jordan in one more category – at the end of 2025, in the match against Philadelphia, he took the sixth place among Chicago’s best three-pointers, surpassing the best basketball player of all time, according to many. At the same time, our NBA ace is the center of the Bulls with the most three-pointers in the history of the franchise, and the fourth center in the history of the NBA.
“The first part of the season in Chicago I started well, I played at a high level. We were in the position where we were expected to be, in the playoff zone. Those were realistic goals that we could fulfill and we were there. However, in the middle of the season, trades happened, I and a few other players left. Chicago went in another direction, and I went to Boston.”
He came to Boston, but his stay in the famous franchise was ruined by a finger injury in the game with Dallas at the end of the regular season. In the end, the Celtics were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by Philadelphia, who overcame a 3-1 deficit to advance to the semifinals.
“In Boston, there were both good and bad moments. I think the finger injury, which caused me to take a break for a month, had a lot of influence. The timing of the injury itself had a lot of influence – right before the end of the regular season and the beginning of the playoffs. Then I didn’t manage to catch the right rhythm, fit in with my teammates and manage in my new role.”
Vucevic also had a new role, since he entered the game from the bench.
“Coming off the bench, reduced playing time, I needed some adaptation period, and I didn’t have that much. I think it affected everything. All in all, it was a nice experience for me, to be part of such a team. It remains a pity that we didn’t get a good result, I think we had a good team and a chance to do something good.”
The NBA ace was injured in a match where, after a break due to a serious injury, Jayson Tatum returned.
“When he came back, I was injured. It had a lot to do with creating chemistry, for us to play together, for me to get used to them and them to me. The new role and everything that came together did not go as we had hoped. If I had been healthy, it would have been better, we would have fit in better,” said Vučević, a two-time All-Star player.
Vucevic also talked about the trade to Boston itself, how much such things affect the players.
“It’s not easy in the middle of the season, I’m an older and more experienced player. Changes are not easy – you join a new team, there are new teammates, everything is new. The trade is part of the business we do. I went through the same thing when I arrived in Chicago, you get used to it all. Trades are always awkward, especially since I went to Boston alone, and my wife and children stayed in Chicago, it was not easy. I was well received in Boston, everything was at the highest possible level, everyone tried to fit in as soon as possible. If it wasn’t for the injury, everything would have looked better.”
THE NEW YORK EXPERIENCE DECIDED
The NBA league is over, the title was won by the New York Knicks, who were better than San Antonio after five games.
“New York’s experience decided. San Anotnio is a young team, no one expected to reach the finals. It’s a great experience and a great school for them. New York rose up, had a great end of the season. They won the Cup, then they had a little slump, and at the end of the season they played great, they tied 13 wins at one point in the playoffs. They are a complete team, strong in attack, led by Jalen Branson, who is a great player. They deserved to come to the title and all the best to them.”
I’M PLANNING TO WATCH THE MATCH AGAINST ROMANIA
Vučević ended his national team career at the previous Eurobasket, but he still follows Montenegro’s matches. In July, our national team is expected to continue qualifying for the World Cup, and the rivals are Portugal away (July 2) and Romania at home (July 5). Montenegro is at 2-2 and close to qualifying for the second stage.
“The victory against Greece means a lot, it opened up the possibility for us to, if we go to the second stage, transfer as many points as possible. And thus it opens the chance to reach the Mundobasket. The next two games against Portugal and Romania are important. If we win both, it would be a big thing and it would make our job much easier in the next round. It is against the Romanians in Bar, I will be there and I plan to go watch.”
I ALWAYS LOVED PLAYING WITH BOJAN, HE GAVE A LOT TO BASKETBALL
On Saturday, it was announced that Bojan Dubljević has ended his career. It was Vučević and Dubljević who marked a period in the Montenegrin basketball team, leaving a deep, huge mark with their games in the national team.
“I congratulate Bojan on a great career. In Valencia, he became a club legend, he was the main player for many years, won numerous trophies. I congratulate him on his retirement, now he can enjoy other things and devote himself to his family, because he gave a lot to basketball.”
Vučević spoke with choice words about his former teammate in the national team.
“I always loved playing with him. He is a great player, grateful for the team. A lot of things he does on the field are often not seen in the statistics. Very smart, his combativeness always meant a lot to the team. He was our captain, we had a good relationship, we were roommates several times, there was always good cooperation. We didn’t play together the last couple of meetings, but when we were there, everything worked well,” recalled Vucevic.
COLLEGE IS GOOD FOR YOUNG PLAYERS
Vučević followed the NCAA league with special attention, in which there were also Montenegrin basketball players the previous season. Luka Bogavac played for North Carolina, David Mirković was at Illinois, Andrija Grbović at Arizona, Fedor Žugić at Creighton…
“I followed a lot. I know Bogavac well, I followed him a lot and he played well. It was a big thing for him. He transferred to Oklahoma State and I think it will be a good opportunity. I know Mirkovic since he was at my camp. He had a great season, the NCAA tournament he played great. It’s a shame that Illinois didn’t reach the finals and the title. He will have a chance next season. Mirkovic is a very talented player, difficult to guard, a four that can he shoots, he plays with his face to the basket, he can have a nice career. I also followed Andrija Grbović and Fedor Žugić. I think that the college is good for them, for their development, which is important. As for the conditions and work, it is good for young people to develop, and to use it for education,” concluded Nikola Vucevic.
Download the application and follow the news
FOLLOW US ON
News
