(670 The Score) New Bulls center Nikola Vucevic ran through the gamut of emotions Saturday in his first media session since being traded from Orlando to Chicago on Thursday.
Vucevic expressed his joy to join what he views as an up-and-coming Bulls team. He explained confidently how he envisions himself fitting in well with All-Star guard Zach LaVine. And then he ended his Zoom interview with a poignant scene, getting overcome by emotion when asked by an Orlando-based reporter to reflect on his time with the Magic, which traced back to 2012.
"I mean, uh, I'm getting emotional," Vucevic said. "But like I said, when I was, when I wrote that text, it was very difficult for me to do that. But it was just a, a …
Vucevic needed about a minute to compose himself, then continued.
"Over nine years, you're going to meet a lot of great people," he said while wiping away a few tears. "That was just the hardest for me, just leaving that place. Obviously, it meant a lot to me. Like I said, I came as a kid and left as a man. I guess you guys know the answer with my reaction. Leaving that place after so many years obviously was hard."
Vucevic left the Magic because the Bulls believed he could lift them to the next level. They price they paid was center Wendell Carter Jr., forward Otto Porter Jr. and lightly protected first-round draft picks in 2021 and 2023. The Bulls (19-24) are 10th in the East, which represents the final slot in the play-in tournament. Their intention is to ascend higher and earn their way into the traditional eight-team playoff bracket in each conference.
Vucevic, 30, is set to make his debut when the Bulls visit the Spurs on Saturday evening. He's averaging 24.5 points and 11.8 rebounds while shooting 48% overall and 40.6% from 3-point range. He and LaVine have been friends for some time, as they share an agency, and they communicated a great deal Thursday shortly after the news emerged that Vucevic was headed to Chicago.
"I'm obviously very happy to be here," Vucevic said. "I think I can fit right in with the group of guys we have. I think my style of play fits as well. Talking to a lot of players and coach (Billy) Donovan, a lot of stuff he wants to run and how he wants to play and how he sees the game of basketball, I can fit right in. I enjoy playing the way that they play. I've watched them a lot."
Vucevic added he's a "big fan" of LaVine.
"Our two-man game can be very good," Vucevic said. "It's going to take some time for us to get to know each other and build that chemistry. I think when you have two high-caliber players and players with high IQ that know how to play the game and play to win, I think it won't take us long. I think we'll fit great together. I'm really looking forward to playing with him."
Cody Westerlund is a sports editor for 670TheScore.com and covers the Bulls. Follow him on Twitter @CodyWesterlund.
