Vucevic likes the idea of staying with the Orlando Magic.
This season has been somewhat of a revelation for Nikola Vucevic as starting center for the Orlando Magic. The 24-year-old is averaging 19.5 points and 11.2 rebounds per game in his fourth NBA season and has made significant strides as a formidable young big man in the league.
Vucevic signed a four-year extension with the Magic last year, dubbing him the starting center for the franchise for years to come. He told Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel that he hopes to continue to be that mainstay in Orlando:
“I love it here. I really love the city,” he said. “I’ve improved here a lot as a player. I’d love to stay for a long, long time and make something special happen.”
“Yeah, I’m here for the long haul. I hope to stay here my whole career.”
The Magic acquired Vucevic in the four-team trade that sent Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2012. Vucevic is running with a young nucleus that has potential to be a new collective foundation for the Magic — Victor Oladipo, Tobias Harris, Elfrid Payton, and Aaron Gordon. If this group is kept together and allowed to develop, there is tremendous upside. Vucevic thinks it’s worth the wait.
“If it takes years, it takes years,” he said. “I ain’t going anywhere.”
