From the special reporter "Vijesti"
The "exodus" of Nikola Vučević from the national team lasted almost two years.
He skipped eight games in the Mundobasket qualifiers due to the "smart" choice of Fiba to schedule the dates when the NBA season is in full swing, and another four when he was preparing for the competitive year in which he became an all-star player.
There was talk for a long time about whether he would join his teammates, basketball fans wrote him off, but he waited until he became a free agent and as soon as he signed a new contract with Orlando, he informed coach Zvezdan Mitrović that he was coming.
Due to NBA rules, he was not allowed to train for more than four weeks with the national team, so he was the last to join the preparations, but he came prepared and ready to make a new step in his career...
"It's nice to be with the guys with whom I played in several European championships and those qualifiers in 2016, and with some of whom I was in clubs. The World Cup is one of the biggest competitions, I'm happy to go to China and I hope to show myself in in the best possible light," emphasized the 28-year-old Baranin.
During the previous months, it was mentioned that Vucevic was wanted by the LA Lakers, Sacramento, Boston and Portland, but in KSCG they were rooting for Orlando, because they knew that this was the best chance for him to perform at Mundobasket.
He waited until he was on the market and could officially negotiate with interested teams, but admits that only the Florida franchise was on his mind.
"First I wanted to resolve the situation with the contract, that was the most important thing for me. I expected everything to end quickly, but you can never know for sure. As soon as I decided to stay in Orlando, I decided to play in the World Cup as well . I have been in Florida for seven years, so it was easy to make the decision to go to China. Orlando was my first option, because I have been there for a long time and the last season was successful. I wanted to stay, we quickly agreed all the details of the new contract. Both sides were satisfied, so I didn't consider other options," admits the man who received $100 million (gross) for a four-year contract.
Vučević played eight seasons in the NBA and knows well the Brazilians' biggest rivals for the second round, because Leandrinho Barbosa (14 seasons, won the title with Golden State), Anderson Varejao (13), Marcelinho Huertas, Marquinhos Vijera ( two each) and Alex Garcia (one).
Now his rivals are Cristiano Felicio (Chicago) and Bruno Caboclo (Memphis).
"The Brazilians are an excellent team, experienced, they have been playing together for a long time. They also have several younger guys, who have already been to major competitions and will certainly be a difficult opponent. The World Cup is specific, everything depends on how you play those three games, what kind you will have a day. Varejao, Marcelinho and Barbosa played in the NBA, they have good careers, now Felicio and Caboclo are here. They are physically powerful, they are a complete team and it will be difficult against them. We must not underestimate New Zealand either, we do not have the luxury of we do that against anyone. Also, Greece is not only the favorite in our group, but in the whole World Cup, but we'll see what happens."
His direct rival will be the 36-year-old Varejao, who in 2010 was a member of the second best defensive five in the NBA, and played in the Grand Final with Cleveland.
"He is an excellent basketball player, he was in the NBA for many years, played in several finals... He has a lot of experience, he plays with a lot of energy, he is smart and a real team player, he does some things that do not appear in the statistics. For many years we played one against another and it is certain that he would not be so much in the NBA if he was not good. But every player in the world has flaws and against everyone you find a way to attack him or how to defend him. We will see how many "match-ups" I have against him or another one of their centers. I'm not only thinking about Varežao, but about all the players of Brazil and other rivals," said Vučević.
About the Olympics when the group is over
The World Championship in China will be a qualification for the Olympic Games in Tokyo, as the two best placed teams from Europe and America, and one each from Asia, Africa and Oceania will join Japan. Another 16 will win participation in the qualifying tournaments, in which two more selections from Europe, America, Africa, and Asia and Oceania will participate.
Therefore, in order to keep the chance to fight for the Olympic Games next summer, Montenegro would have to be among the 23 best teams, and the better placed it would have easier rivals.
"We shouldn't think so far ahead, but go step by step and try to score two victories, in order to pass to the second stage. Experience tells us that it has never ended well for us in big competitions when we thought too far ahead. That's why we're going now slowly," Vučević alludes to the European championships in 2011 and 2013, when the "reds" already said goodbye in the first phase.
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