Chicago Bulls star center Nikola Vucevic may be turning 35 soon, but he's still playing at a high level and impacting the game in multiple ways.
Vucevic delivered a signature performance for Montenegro on Monday in a crucial group-play game against Sweden at the FIBA EuroBasket 2025.
The big man stuffed the stat sheet with 23 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, three blocks and two steals while shooting 9-of-15 from the field and 3-of-4 from three-point range in the team's 87-81 victory.
23 PTS I 15 REB I 4 BLK I 40 EFF
— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) September 1, 2025
Welcome to Vucevic Clinic: Vooch controlled the paint as Montenegro keep Round of 16 hopes alive! #EuroBasket pic.twitter.com/Y3A6triCvu
Coming into the game, Montenegro was 0-3 and Sweden was 1-2 in Group B, as both teams were vying for the fourth and final spot from the group to advance to the Round of 16.
With a loss, Montenegro would have been eliminated, but Vucevic wasn't ready to go home just yet.
Vucevic is playing in what might be his last tournament with the Montenegro national team at this year's EuroBasket. He previously hinted about retiring from the national team at the conclusion of the event.
"I think after the EuroBasket, that'll be it," Vucevic said before the tournament. "I'll give my best, enjoy it and try to achieve the best result possible. I'm entering the final phase of my career. My focus will shift — to rest during summers, to be with my family. It's not 100 percent certain, but at the moment, I believe these will be my last games for the national team."
"It's always a joy to come and play for your country, especially at major tournaments, where all the best players gather," he added. "It's different from playing for a club. The feeling is different, the chemistry between players, the energy … You have one national team you play for. You represent your people — your whole country is watching. That's a special thrill."
Based on his level of play, there's no doubt that he's giving his best, as he's averaging 18.3 points, a tournament-high 11.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game through four games.
His game has been nothing short of consistent, as he has scored at least 20 points in three out of four games and grabbed at least 10 rebounds in all four games.
Thanks to the win against Sweden, Montenegro's fate is in its own hands. It just has to defeat Great Britain (0-4) in its next game on Sept. 3, and it will officially advance to the knockout phase, where anything can happen, especially if Vucevic has one last big performance left to give on the international stage.
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