Nikola Vucevic Confirms He Will Start The 2025-26 NBA Season With The Chicago Bulls

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Nikola Vucevic has confirmed his intention to begin the 2025-26 NBA season with the Chicago Bulls. This decision follows discussions with Marc Eversley, the team's general manager. Despite rumours linking him to the Los Angeles Lakers, who are keen on strengthening their frontcourt, Vucevic remains committed to the Bulls as he enters the final year of his contract.

Vucevic's performance last season was notable, averaging 18.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game while maintaining a shooting percentage of 53% from the field. The Bulls finished 10th in the Eastern Conference but were eliminated by the Miami Heat in the play-in tournament. Entering his 16th NBA season, Vucevic has played 972 regular-season games since being drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2011.

The veteran center expressed confidence about starting the new season with Chicago after speaking with Eversley. "I have almost no doubt that I'll be in Chicago," Vucevic told Stats Perform exclusively. He added that he is preparing himself for this scenario despite acknowledging that not everything is within his control.

Rumours have been a constant presence in Vucevic's career, particularly in recent years. He described many of these speculations as "nonsense," especially those concerning a potential buyout. According to Vucevic, people in Europe misinterpreted reports suggesting a buyout could occur if no trade happened during the season.

Vucevic rarely engages with these rumours directly, relying instead on friends or family to inform him of any significant developments. He mentioned that a week ago, Eversley reached out to reassure him that none of the buyout rumours were true and that the team still values his presence.

The reassurance from management was appreciated by Vucevic, who stated, "It's nice when your GM contacts you and tells you that." Despite numerous rumours over the summer, none materialised into reality according to Vucevic.

As he prepares for another season with Chicago, Vucevic remains focused on contributing to his team's success while navigating through ongoing speculation about his future.