During preparations for the 15th season of the NBA, the question Nikola Vučević most often had to answer to American journalists was his age, as he will turn 35 tomorrow.
He had a message for all of them that he actually still feels very young, and then at the start of the new season he showed it - he played 32 minutes and was the best player on the floor at the "United Center".
He led the way with a new double-double, with 28 points, 14 rebounds and the 900th three-pointer of his career. Chicago Bulls to triumph over Detroit 115:111.
The "Bulls" entered the new championship with a victory for the first time since the 2022/23 season, and the Montenegrin basketball player once again delighted his coach.
"He was great, physically dominant - when he plays like that, he gives our team a whole new dimension," said Billy Donovan.
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Vučević was excellent practically from the first to the last minute, and he was hitting both when the Bulls went up 23 and when the Pistons came back into the game. He also managed to hit four three-pointers, further increasing one of the records.
He had already become the only center in NBA history with more than 7.000 field goals and more than 800 three-pointers - now he has reached his 900th three-pointer.
"It's pretty impressive at his age to play as many minutes as he did tonight - and effectively and productively. That's great, because he's extremely good at moving the ball. He's one of those players who can score points in a few different ways," Donovan continued to praise his center.
Last season, Vučević averaged 18,5 points, 10,1 rebounds and 3,5 assists, with 53 percent shooting from the field - the first match of the new championship is an announcement that the numbers are clearly not going to drop.
The best players alongside Vučević against the Pistons were Matas Buzelis with 21 points and Josh Giddy with 19.
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