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Orlando Magic: Grading Nikola Vucevic’s 2019-20 NBA season

By Luke Duffy

SAN ANTONIO, TX - FEBRUARY 29: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic reacts after a basket against the San Antonio Spurs during first half action at AT&T Center on February 29, 2020 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that , by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, TX - FEBRUARY 29: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic reacts after a basket against the San Antonio Spurs during first half action at AT&T Center on February 29, 2020 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that , by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) /
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Orlando Magic (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Nikola Vucevic’s highlights

Unlike in previous seasons, there wasn’t really one stand out regular season game for Vucevic. He just typically played well and led the team in either scoring or rebounding, night after night. Occasionally he would have a big night on the assists front too, as was the case when he had nine in a win over the Atlanta Hawks in March.

This again harks back to what we have already mentioned. Consistently good enough to keep you in a game each night, but rarely great enough to take over on his own against an elite team. This season was actually a small regression on the All-Star performances of the previous season, but the playoffs changed all of that.

In what was Vucevic’s clear highlight for the year, his performance in the series against the Bucks was literally years in the making. Vucevic stood up to the challenge presented by back-to-back MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez, averaging 28 points and 11 rebounds over the course of the five games.

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Vucevic showed his hand early, and was at his destructive best in a shock win in game one. He finished with 35 points and 14 rebounds, shooting a sizzling 62.5 percent from deep (5-of-8) in the process. The Bucks had no answer for him with his shooting touch in this kind of rhythm, and it was easily Vucevic’s stand out performance of the year.

He wouldn’t reach those highs again in the series, and the Magic wouldn’t win another game either, but his game two stat line of 32 points and 10 rebounds was solid as well. What made this even more impressive was how Evan Fournier went missing when needed, although Fultz did try his best to help. As good and as important as Vucevic has ever been in a Magic jersey.

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