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Two-Time All-Star Addresses Possibility of Leaving NBA

This Chicago Bulls star revealed what team he would join in the unlikely scenario he left the NBA

Joey Linn

Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic (9) dunks the ball against the San Antonio Spurs during the second half at United Center.
Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic (9) dunks the ball against the San Antonio Spurs during the second half at United Center. / David Banks-Imagn Images
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With the Chicago Bulls amid a rebuild, it is reasonable to assume both Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic will end up somewhere else in the near future.

Both two-time NBA All-Stars, LaVine and Vucevic each come with different concerns that could limit their trade market, but both players could also help a team in the right situation.

During a recent interview with Iva Jevtic from B92 (h/t BasketNews), Vucevic addressed the possibility of leaving the NBA, revealing which team he would join in the unlikely scenario he returns to Europe.

“I would love to play in the NBA for as long as possible. It's the best league, with the best players and conditions," Vucevic said. "At this moment, I'm not thinking about a return to Europe. If it ever happens, Crvena Zvezda would be the main favorite, but many things would have to fall into place."

At 33 years old, Vucevic knows he does not have many years left in the NBA, but he is not yet eyeing a return to Europe. Making two NBA All-Star teams (2019, 2021), Vucevic has had a solid career.

"I'm aware that I've been in the NBA for 13 years now, that the end is not that far off," Vucevic added. “I don't believe I'll play another 13 years, but I have two more years with Chicago, and I'd like to play two more after that. I think I can play at a high level for that long, and then I'll see.

Nikola Vucevic
Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic (9) shoots against Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas (24) in the fourth quarter at Barclays Center. / Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Having played just 16 career postseason games, perhaps Vucevic can end up on a team with much better playoff chances than Chicago has.

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Joey Linn
JOEY LINN

Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined Sports Illustrated's FanNation to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams during his time in school. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts, combined with his excellence in the classroom, earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time across multiple platforms, primarily serving as a credentialed Clippers beat writer.

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