Nikola Vucevic Injury News: When Will the Celtics Star Return?

Nikola Vucevic (Image Credits: Imagn)

Nikola Vucevic Injury News: When Will the Celtics Star Return?

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports
By Debmallya Chakraborty | Last updated Mar 7, 2026 9:41 AM ET

The Boston Celtics had a mixed game when they locked horns against the Dallas Mavericks. On one hand, Bill Simmons’ prediction about Jayson Tatum returning came true. Unfortunately, for Nikola Vucevic, things did not turn out well. After exiting the game with an injury, more bad news followed.

The Chicago Bulls star was traded to the Celtics after Vucevic’s trade market went ‘nonexistent.’ Coming to the Celtics’ roster, the former Bulls’ star wanted to make a heavy impact. After coming off the bench against the Mavericks, he played only a couple of minutes before suffering an injury.

Reporting on the injury, ESPN’s Shams Charania initially posted on X, “Boston Celtics center Nikola Vucevic has sustained a fractured right ring finger.”

Boston's Nikola Vucevic is expected to undergo a procedure on Saturday for his fractured ring finger and miss approximately one month, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/AtHQEzstmI
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 7, 2026

Soon, he came up with a more sombre statement. Charania wrote, “Boston’s Nikola Vucevic is expected to undergo a procedure on Saturday for his fractured ring finger and miss approximately one month, sources tell ESPN.”

This is surely a big blow to both Vucevic and Boston. Coming to his injury, the 35-year-old attempted to post up Dallas’ center Moussa Cisse late in the first quarter. Unfortunately, seconds after receiving the ball, he clutched his right hand. Appearing to be in significant discomfort, head coach Joe Mazulla called for a timeout.

Meanwhile, as the Swiss star will hope to recover soon, he had quite a tussle with Derrick White soon after joining the Celtics.

Why Did Nikola Vucevic Offer Derrick White A Bribe?

Nikola Vucevic (Image Credits: Imagn)

Following his six seasons with the Bulls, the 2-time NBA All-Star came to Boston. But he had a problem. While being a number 9 most of his career, Vucevic saw the jersey number taken by White in the Celtics. Thus, in order to make him give up his favorite number, the former Orlando Magic star allegedly offered White a $5 million bribe!

Addressing the incident on the ‘White Noise Podcast,’ the Celtics star said, “Nine is my favorite number… when I see people wearing it in The Garden, and it’s a Nike jersey, I’m like, ‘Oh, I know that’s mine.”

WHITE TURNED DOWN $5 MILLION: Newly acquired Boston Celtics center Nikola Vucevic offered Derrick White $5 Million for his No. 9 jersey, but, White said he’d need $10 Million to consider ️

White also explained that No. 9 is his favorite number, & that Celtics fans wear his… pic.twitter.com/BEW7YeuwuE
— Courtside Buzz (@CourtsideBuzzX) February 18, 2026