By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Coming off the bench for the Boston Celtics has been a significant career adjustment for Nikola Vucevic, but the veteran Montenegrin center is proving his value in a reserve capacity. On Friday, Vucevic delivered his third double-double since joining the team, fueling a dominant 148-111 victory over the Brooklyn Nets at TD Garden. His presence provided a steadying force for the Celtics‘ second unit, ensuring no drop-off in production during the blowout win.
Reflecting on his performance during the postgame press conference, the 35-year-old big man admitted that finding his rhythm in a new system has required mental discipline. “At times, I feel like I do overthink a little bit, which then makes me kind of hesitant and takes away my aggressiveness. And I felt like tonight I was able to just put a little more together, just play off my teammates. When I was getting good looks, obviously shots were falling, so that also helps,” he said.
The veteran’s efficiency was on full display as he converted 9 of his 13 field goal attempts, finishing the night with a robust stat line of 28 points and 11 rebounds. In addition to his scoring and dominance on the glass, Vucevic facilitated the offense with four assists and contributed defensively with a block. This well-rounded performance underscored why the Celtics moved to acquire his experience for their championship push.
Head coach Joe Mazzulla was quick to praise his new center’s impact on the team’s offensive flow. “Vooch looked very comfortable in his offensive reads and offensive screening, and unlocked a lot of stuff for us,” he mentioned.
Beyond the veteran storylines, the game served as a sentimental reunion for two of the NBA’s brightest young prospects, Hugo Gonzalez and Egor Demin. The former Real Madrid teammates share a deep history, having progressed from the powerhouse Spanish youth system to the senior squad before both were selected in the 2025 NBA Draft, presented by State Farm. Once roommates at Los Blancos, they now find themselves competing on opposite sides of the Atlantic’s most storied basketball venues.
“I met him in the first practice,” said 19-year-old Demin, speaking warmly about his connection with 20-year-old Gonzalez. “He actually was the one who kind of took me under his wing, with like translating what the coaches were saying, because coaches would talk to us in Spanish, our directors would talk to us in Spanish only, to kind of encourage us to learn it fast. So, he helped so much from the first moment to adjust to the culture, language, and all that stuff.”
Retaining starting status on the team coached by Spanish Jordi Fernandez, the Russian combo guard previously finished the game with five points and two assists, while Spain’s Gonzalez finished with eight points, two blocks, two rebounds, one steal, and one assist off the bench.
The game also featured a heavy European influence beyond the former Madrid duo. Portuguese center Neemias Queta started for the Celtics, contributing eight points and making an impact on the defensive end with two steals and a block. Bosnian reserve Luka Garza added four points and three rebounds in the closing minutes, though the Celtics’ British and Ukrainian prospects, Amari Williams and Max Shulga, remained on assignment with the Maine Celtics.
The Nets also leaned heavily on their international talent despite the lopsided score. French guard Nolan Traore started alongside Demin, recording eight points and a team-high seven assists. Meanwhile, Israeli reserves Danny Wolf and Ben Saraf provided scoring sparks from the bench, with Wolf leading the second unit with 16 points.