Philadelphia opened the NBA doors for him as the 16th pick in the 2011 draft - he entered the strongest league quietly, and through 14 seasons he built his path just as quietly and was always one of the most important assets of his club.
Nikola Vucevic and his Chicago team failed to make the play-in, losing to Miami last night, and "Atletico" brought an interesting story about the Montenegrin center the day before that match.
The title perhaps best described everything the 34-year-old guy from Bar has done over the years.
"Tiho has quietly become one of the NBA's most consistent players," writes The Athletic, the sports section of The New York Times.
Vučević achieved a season-long double-double this year, the 11th of his career, with 18,5 points and 10,1 rebounds per game.
"And while many expected Vučević to be traded, he stayed and became a key figure in one of the most pleasant surprises of this season," adds "Atletik".
Everything starts from him.
The same media outlet also carries statements from important people who write the history of the NBA, as well as Vučević's teammates...
"He's the key to a lot of what Chicago does, primarily because of his ability to spread the game and score points off the racket," he said. Joe Mazula, coach of champion Boston.
He continued in a similar vein…
"It changes the way you have to defend against them when they play at a high level. They play faster, they shoot more. I think all their players are playing better, and I think it all starts with Vučević."
Probably the best NBA player at the moment also spoke about the Montenegrin - Nikola Jokic.
"I think his consistency comes from his work ethic. He probably inherited that from his family, because his father was a basketball player too. Consistency is something you work on during the summer - it's what drives you," says the three-time MVP and close friend of Vučević.
He particularly highlighted players from the Old Continent.
"As European players, we pride ourselves on that quality - that we are consistent. He is a very intelligent player, he knows when and how to get the shot. He has been doing that for 14 years, and that is really impressive," Jokić said clearly.
And what do the teammates from Chicago say...
"You never have to worry about whether he's going to show up ready for the game," he says. Kobe White, while Lonzo Ball he adds.
"He's always calm, well, he only gets annoyed when he starts talking in his own language, so he needs to tone down his technicalities. But other than that, he's great to hang out with. He never complains. He doesn't ask for anything. He just comes to work and it's a pleasure to have him on the team."
Some fans criticize his defensive play, but the coach Billy Donovan believes that the average viewer may not understand Vučević's basketball intelligence.
"I would highlight his ability to make the right decisions on the court and sacrifice a good shot to make the team even better. He comes in every day and works. He's very dedicated to preparation. He's reliable. You know what to expect from him day in and day out," Donovan said.
The American media outlet reminds us that since the beginning of the 2021/22 season, Vučević, Jokić, Giannis Adetokumbo i Domantas Sabonis the only players to average at least 300 points, 18 rebounds and three assists in at least 10 games.
"It speaks not only to his consistency, but also to his durability - he has appeared in 330 of a possible 357 games since he arrived with the Bulls."
Grateful for my career: Better than I could have imagined
Vučević is in seventh place in the NBA this season in terms of double-doubles - he has collected 45 of them, and he has also improved his field goal percentage (53 percent) and three-point shooting percentage (40,2 percent on 4,4 attempts per game).
"Consistency is the hardest thing in this league - there are so many games, always ups and downs. You win, you lose, you play well, then bad. You have to learn to deal with it and move on. I just try to give my best every night and stay consistent with myself. I've had better and worse seasons, but I don't think the difference in play and numbers has ever been huge. I'm proud of that. I always try to play my best," Vučević emphasized.
"Atletik" emphasizes that it has never been the center of attention, despite its constant numbers.
"I'm grateful for the career I've had so far - it's better than I could have imagined as a kid dreaming of the NBA. Even when I entered the league, I didn't think I'd be an All-Star or one of the better centers. But I'm not the type to be satisfied easily. I always want more. Even though I've had a good career, I think I still have a lot to give," Vučević emphasized.
And, when his colleagues call him a "double-double machine," he said with a smile.
"It's nice to hear that, because it means that people respect what you do. It means that they recognize your game, and that's always nice. I know they're joking sometimes, but that's nice to me too," Vučević concluded.
Now comes the break, and then Montenegro will enjoy it again when Vuč puts on the red jersey of our country - at the new EuroBasket.
Bonus video:
