For years, Nikola Vucevic was linked to the Celtics. Whenever he visited Boston, fans made sure he knew they wanted him in green.
“Over the years, there were a lot of talks of me being connected to the Celtics, and a lot of times, when I was in Boston, just around the city, I’d hear fans telling me to come here,” Vucevic recalled. “Whenever we played here, honestly, like, if I go walk in the streets or whatever, go to restaurants, people would come up to me, being like, ‘We need you in Boston. Come to Boston.’”
Now in his 15th NBA season, those rumors have come full circle, with the veteran big man making his Celtics debut in a 98-96 win over the Heat on Friday night. After years of recruiting, TD Garden fans made their approval clear, giving the newcomer a loud ovation when he checked in as a Celtic for the first time early in the first quarter.
“It was great,” Vucevic said when discussing his Celtic debut at TD Garden after the game. “Obviously, very loud, one of the loudest places in the NBA. I know, even from playing against the Celtics before, but it’s much nicer when the fans are behind you and supporting you. It was great. Boston fans really know sport. They really know basketball. I could really hear people cheer. It’s fun to hear my name getting cheered, and especially the ovation I got when I first got subbed in. I really appreciate that. It means a lot as a player to get the support from the fans.”
The 35-year-old, who spent the first nine years of his NBA career in Orlando before the last five and a half in Chicago, was acquired by the Celtics earlier this week as part of a deal that sent Anfernee Simons to the Bulls. Speaking Friday morning, Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said the trade was made “in large part to balance out our positional needs,” and expressed excitement about what Vucevic could bring.
“When Vuc walks into the room, it looks different,” he said. “He’s big and long and strong, and can be standing next to anybody in this league and not look small. Maybe there is a guy, but not very many guys. Those guys aren’t just around all the time to just add to your team in late July or August.”
After observing the Celtics, meeting the coaching staff, and reviewing film and walkthroughs, Vucevic, who was averaging 16.9 points, nine rebounds, and 3.8 assists through 48 games this season, felt confident he could fit in seamlessly.
“I think with my skill set, I’m going to be able to fit in pretty well with the way they want to play. The way we want to run our offense. A lot of it fits right within my skill set,” he said. “Obviously, the talent is here. It’s gonna help me as well and make my job a lot easier.
On Friday night, we got a glimpse of how great that fit could be.
Vucevic finished with 11 points and 12 rebounds (six of them offensive) in 27 minutes. He also added four assists and two steals, registering a +11. His 12 rebounds were the most in a Celtics debut since Kevin Garnett in 2007 and marked his 20th double-double of the season.
His passing ability stood out immediately, as did his ability to punish mismatches in the post and dominate the glass, highlighting the different dimension he can bring to Boston’s frontcourt.
“One, I thought he did a great job from the day he got to Boston, right up to tip-off preparing. Preparing for everything. Our language, our coverages, what we needed to do. And I thought he put himself in the position to help us,” head coach Joe Mazzulla said. “And then, I think credit to the guys, for having a quick understanding about why we acquired him and how he can make us better, and how we can help to make him better. I thought those two things were kind of on display tonight on both ends of the floor, and he impacted winning. So we’ve got to continue to get better in a bunch of areas, and it starts with that togetherness, that communication, and that execution.”
Of course, it’s still a work in progress. Vucevic first met his coaches and teammates on Wednesday, and the group has had very little practice time together as he gets familiar with his new surroundings. Still, the Celtics came away encouraged by what they saw in his first night in green.
“I thought it went well. Considering we’re trying to build some chemistry. First game, he’s only had one practice,” said Jaylen Brown. “We definitely want to find ways to maximize when he’s on the floor. I think our guys are extremely unselfish, like everyone was looking for him, everybody is trying to figure it out. You know, it takes a little bit of time to build that chemistry. But we found a way to win the game, and that’s a good sign when you’re in the midst of figuring stuff out or not playing well, and find a way to win. I’ll take the wim over anything.”
It didn’t take long for Vucevic to win over the crowd, as he quickly found himself at home. Throughout the night, TD Garden erupted with chants of “Vooooch” every time he touched the ball or even stepped onto the court.
After years of hearing it from fans on Boston sidewalks, Vucevic finally wore green at TD Garden. The reaction was immediate, the impact was there, and the Celtics left Friday night feeling good about where this could be headed.
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