Orlando Magic big man Nikola Vucevic has passed Shaquille O'Neal for fifth place on the franchise's all-time scoring list.
Shaq scored 8,019 points with the Magic. Vucevic entered Saturday's game against the Indiana Pacers with 8,017 points. Vucevic passed O'Neal in the first quarter of the game.
.@OrlandoMagic C Nikola Vucevic just moved into 5th place all-time in scoring in Magic history, passing Shaquille O'Neal. It came at the 6:57 mark of the first quarter on a left-handed layup.
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) March 30, 2019
The next player for Nikola Vucevic to pass on the Magic's all-time scoring list is Jameer Nelson, who scored 8,184 points with Orlando.
Vucevic is having the best statistical year of his career this season. He entered Saturday averaging 20.7 points, 12.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game while shooting 51.8 percent from the field, 36.4 percent from beyond the arc and 79.2 percent from the free-throw line.
The 28-year-old was rewarded for his strong play, as Vucevic made his first All-Star team.
Vucevic is trying to lead the Magic to the playoffs for the first time since 2012, the final season of the Dwight Howard era. Orlando entered Saturday just a half game back of the Miami Heat for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
The 28-year-old center becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer. It will be interesting to see if the Magic offer him a max contract to stay in Orlando, or let the talented center walk in free agency.
If Vucevic does leave Orlando, he will join Howard and Shaq as the three most dominant players in franchise history to not finish their playing careers with the Magic.
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