4. Nikola Vucevic
To say Nikola Vucevic is struggling doesn’t give credit to a level of production far above average.
Only four other players are matching or exceeding the 17.6 points, 10.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game Vucevic is averaging on the season and he ranks second-to-last among that exclusive group in minutes per game.
And yet, each one of those numbers represents a decrease from the year prior, including an alarming drop in his efficiency, where Vucevic had a career-best season resulting in his first All-Star Game.
He’s shooting noticeably worse on shots both inside and beyond the arc. Despite getting to the free-throw line at a higher rate than ever, those struggles have resulted in a true shooting percentage that’s dipped more than five points.
Nikola Vucevic gets out to 11 PTS in the first half of his return to action! #MagicAboveAll pic.twitter.com/3XEMxK2ZUa
— NBA (@NBA) December 15, 2019
Coupled with an ankle injury that held Vucevic out 11 games and it’s no surprise the Orlando Magic have struggled this season with a 13-17 record.
The Magic don’t have many offensive weapons at their disposal outside of Vucevic. It’s why they currently have the league’s fifth-worst offense that’s scoring the second-fewest points.
He was given a four-year, $100 million deal this past summer to keep Orlando afloat and help the franchise build off its first playoff appearance in seven years.
It might be asking a bit much from a player whose only recently tasted stardom, but the Magic simply need more from Vucevic if they are to maintain this newfound level of success and return to the postseason.