Nikola Vučević (Serbian Cyrillic: Никола Вучевић, pronounced [nǐkola ʋûːtʃeʋitɕ]; born 24 October 1990), nicknamed Vooch, is a Montenegrin professional basketball player for the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the USC Trojans before being drafted 16th overall in the 2011 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers.
Vučević, who spent his rookie season with the 76ers, was traded to the Magic before the start of the 2012–13 season as a part of the four-team trade that sent Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers. He played nine seasons for the Magic and was named an NBA All-Star twice during his tenure with the team. In the middle of the 2020–21 season, the Magic traded Vučević to the Chicago Bulls. After five seasons, he was traded to the Boston Celtics in 2026.
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Early life
Vučević was born in Morges, Switzerland, during the time his father, Borislav Vučević, was playing professionally in the country. His mother is Ljiljana Kubura. He was primarily raised in Belgium, where the family moved in 1992 when his father signed a professional contract there. The Vučević family moved to Montenegro within the Serbia and Montenegro state union in 2003, settling in the coastal town of Bar, his father's hometown. Identifying youth basketball work in Belgium to be inferior compared to that in the Balkan countries, his father moved the family to Montenegro to give Vučević a better chance at developing his basketball skills. He began training within KK Mornar's youth system while his father simultaneously took over a youth team coaching post at the club.
In January 2006, while returning home to Bar from the KK Mornar youth team winter training in Kolašin, fifteen-year-old Vučević and his father survived the Bioče derailment, a train crash in Montenegro that killed 47 people and injured nearly 200 others.
In 2007, Vučević was named Montenegro's Best Young Player.
High school
Vučević moved to Simi Valley, California in the United States in October 2007 to play his senior year of high school at Stoneridge Prep. He knew little English, but did speak French, which many of his teammates also spoke. Under coach Babacar Sy, a friend of his father's, he was team captain and led the team in scoring and rebounding with 18 points and 12 rebounds per game.
College career
Vučević played three seasons with the Trojans of the University of Southern California.
Freshman
Vučević missed the first eight games of the season while waiting to have his amateur status confirmed by the NCAA Clearinghouse. He averaged 2.6 points and 2.7 rebounds in 23 games in three starts. Vučević played in his first game with USC on December 15, 2008, against Pepperdine, and had two points, two blocks and two rebounds in six minutes. He made his first start of the season on January 24, 2009, at Washington State in the Trojans' 46–44 win with a season-high eight points and five rebounds. He also scored eight points on February 9, 2009 at UCLA, and in his second start of the season on 19 February against Washington State. Vučević had a season-best seven rebounds in that game and matched that total on March 5, 2009, vs. Oregon. Vučević scored six points and had four rebounds in the NCAA second-round loss to Michigan State on March 22. In all, he made 57.8 percent of his shots from the field (26-for-45).
Sophomore
Vučević began to excel in his sophomore season. He scored 18 points and had eight rebounds in the first game of the season against UC Riverside on November 17, 2009, both totals better than any of his freshman games. Vučević had 18 points and 14 rebounds at Texas on December 3, 2009. He scored a career-high 19 points and had 11 rebounds versus Loyola Marymount on November 21, 2009, for his first career double-double. He matched his career high with 19 points on 9-of-12 shooting at UCLA on January 16, 2010, scoring 17 points in the second half. By the end of the year, he had led USC in scoring five times and in rebounding 20 times, including the last nine games.
Overall, he was the second-best scorer and leading rebounder on the Trojans, with 10.7 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. Vučević led the Pac-10 with 283 rebounds and offensive rebounds per game (6.3) and his 39 blocks were the fourth most in the conference. Vučević's .504 shooting percentage (126 for 250) led USC and was seventh best in the Pac-10. Vučević was named the 2009–10 Pac-10 Most Improved Player, and earned all-Pac-10 second-team and Pac-10 honorable-mention all-defensive team honors. He had the second-most blocks ever in a season by a Trojan sophomore and the third-most rebounds. Vučević started all 30 games for USC and posted 10 double-doubles.
Junior
As a junior, Vučević averaged 17.1 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. He was picked to the Fourth Team All-America by Fox Sports and was named to the All-Pac-10 first team. In March 2011, Vučević announced that he would give up his senior year to enter the NBA draft. The website NBAdraft.net projected him as the 23rd pick in the draft.
During his three-season career with the Trojans, Vučević averaged 11.1 points and 8.0 rebounds per game.
Professional career
Budućnost (2011)
On June 23, 2011, Vučević was drafted with the 16th overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. During the 2011 NBA lockout, Vučević played for Montenegrin team Budućnost Podgorica.
Philadelphia 76ers (2011–2012)
Following the conclusion of the lockout, Vučević returned to the United States and signed his rookie scale contract with the 76ers on December 9, 2011. On February 22, 2012, Vučević scored a season-high 18 points in a loss to the Houston Rockets.
Orlando Magic (2012–2021)
On August 10, 2012, Vučević was traded to the Orlando Magic as a part of the blockbuster four-team deal that sent Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers. On December 31, 2012, in an overtime loss to the Miami Heat, Vučević set a franchise record with 29 rebounds. On April 10, 2013, he recorded his second straight 20/20 game with a career-high 30 points and 20 rebounds in a 113–103 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.
On November 6, 2013, Vučević recorded a career-high-tying 30 points and 21 rebounds in a 98–90 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. Vučević's strong play over the second half of the 2013–14 season was noticeable on March 28, 2014 when he dominated the Charlotte Bobcats. He overcame a slow start shooting the ball to finish the game with 24 points and 23 rebounds in an overtime victory. Vučević made nine of his last 11 shots to lead a Magic rally in the second half, while also grabbing 16 first-half rebounds and 10 offensive boards in the game, marking the sixth 20-point, 20-rebound game of his career. On 31 March, Vučević earned his first Eastern Conference Player of the Week honor, after he led the Magic to a 2–1 week. He logged a double-double average with 22.7 points (sixth in the conference) and a league-leading 14.3 rebounds. He posted a point–rebound double-double in all three contests. Vučević became the first Magic player to win the Eastern Player of the Week honors since Dwight Howard in 2012.
On October 23, 2014, Vučević signed a four-year, $53 million contract extension with the Magic. On April 3, 2015, he scored a career-high 37 points in a 97–84 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
On November 11, 2015, Vučević didn't start for the Magic against the Los Angeles Lakers, returning to action after a three-game absence with a right knee contusion. Vučević, who had started all 223 games for the Magic over his four-season tenure, came off the bench for the first time and scored 18 points, including a fallaway 18-footer at the buzzer to lift the Magic over the Lakers 101–99. Vučević averaged 18.4 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists in his first 12 games of December (December, 1–23). Shaquille O'Neal is the only other Magic player to reach those numbers in one month in franchise history. On February 7, 2016, he scored 22 points and hit an 18-footer at the buzzer to lead the Magic over the Atlanta Hawks 96–94, winning for only the third time in 18 games in 2016. On 23 February, he scored a season-high 35 points in a 124–115 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. On 31 March, he returned to action after missing the previous 13 games with a right groin strain. He subsequently came off the bench for just the second in his Magic tenure, as he scored 24 points in a 114–94 win over the Indiana Pacers. He came off the bench for a further three games before returning to the starting line-up on 8 April against the Miami Heat, where he scored a game-high 29 points in a 112–109 win.
Chicago Bulls (2021–2026)
On March 25, 2021, the Orlando Magic traded Vučević along with Al-Farouq Aminu to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Wendell Carter Jr., Otto Porter Jr. and two future first-round picks. Vučević played and started in all 44 games and was averaging 24.5 points, 11.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists, while shooting 40.6% from three-point range and 82.7% from the free throw line with the Magic for the 2020–21 season. He was the fourth-leading rebounder in the league at the time. On March 27, Vučević debuted for the Bulls in a 120–104 loss to the San Antonio Spurs, scoring a game-high 21 points, grabbing nine rebounds and dishing out four assists in 32 minutes of action. On 31 March, Vučević logged his first double-double as a Bull with 24 points and 10 rebounds in a 121–116 loss to the Phoenix Suns. On April 4, Vučević posted his 32nd double-double of the season and second as a Bull with 22 points and a game-high 13 rebounds along with two assists, two steals and two blocks in a 115–107 win over the Brooklyn Nets, ending the Bulls' longest losing streak of the season at six games. Two days later, Vučević tallied 32 points, 17 rebounds and five assists in a 113–97 victory against the Indiana Pacers, becoming the third player in franchise history to log at least 30 points, 15 rebounds and five assists in a game, joining Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol. On 26 April, Vučević logged his third straight double-double and the fortieth of his career with 24 points and 11 rebounds in a 110–102 win over the Miami Heat. It was also his tenth double-double in his 18 games as a Bull. After missing two games due to a hip injury, Vučević returned to action on 6 May, recording his sixth consecutive double-double with 29 points and 14 rebounds, in addition to three assists, two steals and a block in a 120–99 victory over the Charlotte Hornets. The next day, Vučević posted his second triple-double of the season and the fourth of his career with 18 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists in a 121–99 win over the Boston Celtics, becoming the first Bulls player to log a triple-double since Jimmy Butler in 2017.
On November 11, 2021, Vučević entered the NBA's health and safety protocols after testing positive for COVID-19. After missing seven games, Vučević made his return on 24 November, posting a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds in a 118–113 loss to the Houston Rockets. On November 29, Vučević logged 30 points on 6-of-6 shooting from three, in addition to 14 rebounds and five assists in a 133–119 victory over the Charlotte Hornets, joining Kemba Walker as the only two players in NBA history to record at least 30 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists with a 100% 3-point field goal percentage on at least five attempts. On 27 December, Vučević scored 24 points, knocking down four 3-pointers to go along with 17 rebounds, six assists and four blocks in a 130–118 victory against the Atlanta Hawks, becoming the first player in the league to ever post such stat line. Two days later, Vučević logged a double-double with 16 points and 20 rebounds on 8-of-14 shooting from the field, to go along with one assist, three steals and one block across 33 minutes of play in a win over the Hawks, joining Joakim Noah and Tyson Chandler as the third Bulls player to grab at least 20 rebounds in less than 35 minutes of action since Dennis Rodman in the 1990s. On February 4, 2022, Vučević finished with 36 points, 17 rebounds, four assists and three blocks in a 122–115 win over the Indiana Pacers, becoming the first Bulls player since Michael Jordan in 1996 to log 35 points, 15 rebounds and 3 blocks in a game. On February 14, 2022, Vučević scored 25 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and dished out five assists in a 120–109 win against the San Antonio Spurs.
Boston Celtics (2026)
On February 5, 2026, Vučević and a 2027 second-round pick were traded to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Anfernee Simons and a 2026 second-round pick. On February 6, Vučević debuted for the Celtics in a 98–96 win over the Miami Heat, contributing 11 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and two steals in 28 minutes of action from the bench. In his eighth game with the Celtics he scored 28 points and had 11 rebounds in 25 minutes. On March 6, Vučević suffered a fractured right ring finger, and was projected to miss a month after undergoing surgery. In 16 total appearances (including one start) for Boston, he logged averages of 9.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.0 assists.
Return to Orlando (2026–present)
On July 1, 2026, Vučević signed a one-year, $3.9 million contract to return to the Orlando Magic.
National team career
Vučević represented the Montenegro Under-20 team at the FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship. He then represented the senior Montenegro national basketball team at FIBA EuroBasket 2011, FIBA EuroBasket 2013 and FIBA EuroBasket 2017. He averaged 5.0 points per game and 3.2 rebounds per game in 2011 while backing up Nikola Peković. With Peković out of the 2013 tournament, Vučević started for the team and put up 7.0 points per game and 4.0 rebounds per game.
Vučević represented Montenegro at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup. In 5 games, he averaged 14.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists, while shooting 47.6% from the field.
Vučević returned to represent Montenegro at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. In 5 games, he averaged 19.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists, while shooting 52.7% from the field.
During EuroBasket 2025, Vučević led Montenegro in points, rebounds and blocks, averaging 20.8 points, 11.6 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game. Montenegro, however, failed to advance after recording one win in four games. Following the team's elimination, Vučević announced his retirement from international basketball, citing "it's time for a new generation to leave its mark."
Personal life
Vučević's father, Borislav Vučević, played professional basketball in Yugoslavia, Switzerland and Belgium—a 24-year career the highlight of which was being on the KK Bosna roster that won the European Champions Cup in 1979 in addition to several Yugoslavia national team appearances, primarily at the 1983 Mediterranean Games in Casablanca, Morocco and EuroBasket 1985 in West Germany. Vučević's Serb mother, Ljiljana Kubura, also played basketball professionally as a 6-foot-2 forward for the Sarajevo club Željezničar, as well as for the Yugoslavia women's national team.
In 2016, Vučević married his longtime girlfriend, Nikoletta, the sister of former NBA player Aleksandar "Sasha" Pavlović. The couple have three sons.
Vučević is an ethnic Serb and a Serbian Orthodox Christian. He speaks French, Serbian and English. Vučević holds dual citizenship with both Montenegro and Belgium. On October 2, 2024, Vučević also became a U.S. citizen.
Vučević is a fan of KK Crvena zvezda, FK Crvena zvezda, Juventus and Olympique Lyonnais. On December 27, 2021, he was elected on a five-year term as a member of the Assembly for KK Crvena zvezda.