Orlando Magic: This is still clearly Nikola Vucevic’s team

The Orlando Magic have been one of the surprise packages of the early season, and they have center Nikola Vucevic to once again thank for this.

How quickly they forget. That is perhaps a saying that is as relevant to the NBA as phrases like “averages” or “offensive efficiency”. The narrative around a player or team changing seemingly on a game by game basis, usually through the vehicle of social media. “Pandemic P” Paul George is one such example, the butt of many jokes in the bubble in Florida, but not so anymore. This is a reality that Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic has existed in for a long time now.

Thought of for years as the player who was holding the organization back, despite being their best player during multiple seasons in which they ended up in the lottery, which was kind of the problem, that kind of talk has died down since his lone All-Star appearance in 2018-19.

What we know now is that Vucevic, like so many others, just needed the right players around him to truly unlock his full potential. It also helps that at 30, he is currently right in the middle of his prime as well. Even more impressive has been Vucevic’s ability to never speak out against the situation he was in, simply playing hard and trying to win all of the fans over.

It is the reason why he will one day be in the Magic’s Hall of Fame, but there is so much more to come from him until then. With Markelle Fultz returning a much-improved player and Cole Anthony looking like a rookie with a big chip on his shoulder, as well as both Evan Fournier and Aaron Gordon having something to prove, everything is still running through Vucevic, and he might just be better than ever.

Part of what makes Vucevic so good, from an offensive standpoint at least, is his ability to not only change with the times but also change with what the team needs from him. Before head coach Steve Clifford took over for the Orlando Magic in 2018, Vucevic was certainly featured offensively, but everything didn’t flow seamlessly through and around him.

A coaching change for the Orlando Magic opened things up for Nikola Vucevic

That change seemed to happen overnight, and it was the key to Vucevic being named an All-Star in Clifford’s first season in charge. He also had a case to play in the midseason exhibition last year as well, his numbers certainly gave him a case, but the truth is Vucevic isn’t the sexiest surname and Orlando isn’t the most high profile location to ply your trade.

Not to worry though, as this has been to the Magic’s advantage. So far this season, in a small sample size, Vucevic is averaging a career-high 21.7 points per game. That’s all well and good, but it is the manner in which he is doing this which shows his willingness to adapt. He is taking more 3-point shots than ever before (5.4), and so far is converting a scorching 47.4 percent of them.

Vucevic taking long-range shots isn’t anything new, but doing so and doing it well is the culmination of a process that he started four years ago. The league has changed, and Vucevic has moved with it, to the benefit of the Orlando Magic. At this point, he is clearly a top-five center in the Eastern Conference.

Taking on the offensive load and scoring in a variety of ways (he is still excellent around the paint with some brilliant footwork and passing ability) was one thing, but now that his supporting cast has improved, Vucevic has had no issue diversifying his approach as well. He will screen and run all day for Fultz, who he clearly sees as the guy with the potential to be the best point guard he plays with.

As of now, Vucevic (24.6) ranks below Fultz (24.8) and Terrence Ross (25.9, and who started the season so well) in usage. Coming in behind a point guard in this category is to be expected, but Vucevic led this category last season (25.8), despite playing with both Fultz and a veteran point guard in D.J. Augustin.

He is used to being the focal point for everything offensively, and while he still is, to be doing so with the ball in his hands less, while scoring more than ever, is huge for the Magic. If there was another level for Vucevic to get to, and really his peak was already elite in so many ways, then being more efficient was that final step.

In the early goings of this season, it looks like Vucevic has done that. His 31 minutes per game is down on his last two seasons, and the 10.9 attempts he’s taking from inside the 3-point line are the fewest since his rookie season. This is because he takes more shots from deep, but if Vucevic insisted on having his number called inside the paint more, he’d likely get what he wanted.

To be doing all of this, while the Magic also rank sixth in defensive efficiency (102.9) explains a lot about their fast start. It also clearly shows how this is still Vucevic’s team, and after back-to-back postseason appearances, and with a young core in place, Magic fans have to be thankful that they have him around.

Which is a far cry from the days when moving on from Vucevic in favor of giving Mohamed Bamba a clear run to the starting spot seemed to be the opinion of many. Where would the franchise be now if they had made that call? In summary, then, it is more of the same from Nikola Vucevic for the Orlando Magic early in the season. Only better.