After helping the Orlando Magic reach the 2018-19 playoffs, Nikola Vucevic is now aiming to lead Montenegro in the upcoming FIBA World Cup in China.
Vucevic had a stellar season with the Magic last year, putting up All-Star numbers as he helped the Magic break their six-year playoff drought. Now more motivated and hungrier than ever, the 28-year-old center is looking to build from his remarkable season and catapult Montenegro to a ‘deep run' in the basketball world tournament.
“The goal is to go to the next round and try to have a long run in China,” Vucevic told FIBA Basketball. “We have a great and talented group of players, with only two guys over 30 years of age and we all want to show the world that Montenegro’s basketball is very competitive.”
Vooch and Montenegro, who will be making their debut in the quadrennial affair, are in the Group F of the tournament. They are set to face strong oppositions though, with Greece, Brazil and New Zealand comprising the group.
Only the top two teams in each group will move on to the second stage of the competition, so Vucevic and the Montenegrin national team certainly has their work cut out for them.
Vucevic averaged 20.8 points, 12.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists with the Magic last season. Montenegro can only hope that the one-time All-Star can replicate his production when the FIBA World Cup tips off this August 31.
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