Vucevic Names the EuroLeague Giants He'd Have Chosen Without the NBA
The Bulls center imagined an alternate career path, picking out three of Europe's biggest clubs as his hypothetical destinations.
Nikola Vucevic used a rare quiet moment to entertain a what-if: what if the NBA had never happened for him? According to Sportando, the Chicago Bulls center named three EuroLeague powerhouses he would have wanted to play for in that alternate scenario — Crvena Zvezda, Real Madrid and Olympiacos.
It's a telling trio. Real Madrid and Olympiacos are two of the most decorated clubs in EuroLeague history, perennial contenders with the resources and tradition to match almost anything in world basketball outside the NBA. Crvena Zvezda, based in Belgrade, carries its own weight as one of the sport's most passionate fan bases in the Balkans.
Vucevic, who has spent his entire NBA career in the league since being drafted, has instead built his reputation stateside, most recently anchoring Chicago's frontcourt. The comments offer a glimpse of how the veteran big man sees the European game and the clubs he holds in the highest regard, even if his own path never crossed with them.