Chicago Bulls’ Nikola Vučević Retires From Montenegro National Team

NBA big man Nikola Vučević of the Chicago Bulls is retiring from the Montenegro National Team.

Montenegro lost to Great Britain by a final score of 89-83 to get eliminated from EuroBasket 2025.

“It sucks for me to finish [international career] this way,” Nikola Vučević said, via BasketNews. “I would have loved to play more in Riga, but it is what it is. I’d like to thank my teammates, coaches, and most importantly, the fans for everything they did throughout my career with the national team. It was an honor to play here, but that’s sports. I enjoyed playing here, but it’s time for a new generation to leave its mark.”

Vučević has one year left on his NBA contract. He will make $21.4 million next season. The Bulls acquired the veteran from the Orlando Magic in March 2021.

A two-time All-Star, Vučević averaged 18.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.7 blocks for the Bulls last season in 73 games. He shot 53.0% from the field, 40.2% from beyond the arc and 80.5% from the free-throw line. The USC product recorded 45 double-doubles and one triple-double.

Vučević, who turns 35 in October, has career averages of 17.2 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.9 blocks with the Philadelphia 76ers, Magic and Bulls.

Chicago is nowhere near close to competing right now. The franchise is just 3-8 in the playoffs since trading 2011 MVP Derrick Rose to the New York Knicks in 2016. Chicago also traded All-Star Jimmy Butler to the Minnesota Timberwolves on draft night in 2017.

The Golden State Warriors were interested in trading for Vučević last season, but a deal didn’t go down. The Warriors wound up acquiring Butler from the Miami Heat.

Vučević is better suited to play for a playoff team at this stage of his career. It will be fascinating to see if he gets traded in 2025-26.