Nikola Vujčić

Nikola Vujčić

Vujčić in a Maccabi Tel Aviv jersey.
Position Forward-Center
Height 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Weight 250 lb (110 kg)
Team Free agent
Number 18
Born June 14, 1978 (1978-06-14) (age 33)
Split, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia
Nationality Croatian
Pro career 1995–present
Career history Split (1995–01)
ASVEL (2001–02)
Maccabi Tel Aviv (2002–08)
Olympiacos (2008–10)
Efes Pilsen (2010–11)
Awards All-Euroleague First Team: (2005, 2006, 2007)
All-Euroleague Second Team: (2003, 2004)
Euroleague All-Decade Team 2001–10

Nikola Vujčić (born June 14, 1978) is a Croatian professional basketball player. He is 2.11 m (6 ft 11) tall. He can play at both the center and power forward positions. He last played for Efes Pilsen SK for the 2010–11 season.

Contents

Player profile

Vujčić's strengths and weaknesses are fairly typical for a European center. Though he is not especially athletic or strong, and his defense is questionable, he has some solid moves in the paint, shoots the ball well (including the occasional three-point field goal) and is a deft passer.

Vujčić was the first player in the Euroleague to achieve a triple-double. On November 3, 2005, he finished Maccabi's Euroleague game versus Prokom Trefl Sopot with 11 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists. The game ended with a 95–68 Maccabi win. On November 30, 2006, Vujčić recorded another triple-double, the second ever in Euroleague's history, in Maccabi's 110–87 win over Union Olimpija, with 27 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

Pro career

Vujčić was born in Vrgorac, in inland Dalmatia, Croatia, in the former Yugoslavia. He made his professional debut with KK Split in 1995–96, coming from the young team of the club. Played there till 2000–01, wearing number 7 that once belonged to former Split star and former NBA player Toni Kukoč. With Split, Vujčić appeared twice in the Croatian League playoff final, played 57 Euroleague/Suproleague games and 28 Saporta Cup games.

In 2001, he was signed by Maccabi Tel Aviv as a replacement for Nate Huffman, who was expected to leave. At the last moment, though, Huffman decided to return for one more season so Maccabi sent Vujčić on loan to French club ASVEL Villeurbanne. Vujčić helped them win the French Championship for the first time in 21 years. He also took part in 14 Euroleague games that season, averaging 15.7 points and 6.4 rebounds.

From 2002 to 2008, with Maccabi, he won 2 Euroleague titles (2004 and 2005), 5 Israeli Championships and 4 Israeli State Cups with the club.

On June 18, 2008, he signed a two-year contract,[1] worth 4.5 million euros net income with Olympiacos.

On October 25, 2010 he signed a contract with Efes Pilsen.[2]

Honours

Croatian national team

As a member of the senior Croatian national team, Vujčić played at the EuroBasket 1997, the EuroBasket 1999, the EuroBasket 2001, the EuroBasket 2005, and the EuroBasket 2009.

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