While Nikola Vucevic isn't sure who made the first move, when the Orlando Magic registered interest, the chance for a homecoming quickly separated itself from the pack.
The former first-round pick blossomed into an All-Star there. He spent nearly a decade of his life there. After beginning his career with the Philadelphia 76ers, he arrived in Orlando at age 22 and left as a 30-year-old.
That maturation, on and off the court, is crucial to one's foundation. However, nostalgia and family ties aren't the only reasons he chose to sign with the Magic this summer.
"For me, being at the stage where I'm at in my career, it was important for me that it's a team that has a chance to win. And then also, a place that would be good for my family. And so, when the opportunity for Orlando came up, I didn't think about it too much," said Vucevic at a virtual press conference after his signing. "When I put it all on paper, it was a pretty easy decision for me to come back."
Nikola Vucevic's Celtics tenure undermined by injury
The 15-year veteran suffered a fractured right ring finger early in Jayson Tatum's season debut. That cost him almost a full month. He had just four games to ramp up for the playoffs and resume building chemistry with his new teammates.
In Boston's first-round rivalry clash with the Philadelphia 76ers, Vucevic averaged 6.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists. The biggest problem was that he converted on just 29.2 percent of his 4.0 attempts from beyond the arc. How much his injury is to blame for that is unknown. However, he's a career 35 percent three-point shooter.
Those long-range struggles led to Luka Garza starting in Game 7, as Joe Mazzulla shuffled his first unit, hoping to capture some of the spark that ignited a 56-win regular season.
And with Neemias Queta, who more recently fulfilled a dream, signing a lucrative contract extension, coming off the bench and delivering one of the most impactful performances by a Celtic, generating 17 points and 12 rebounds, Vucevic never entered the contest.
His not playing in Game 7 signaled a return to Boston was unlikely. Now, the 35-year-old returns to the most meaningful place in his career. He does so excited about what that means for his family and the opportunity he'll have on the court when he drapes a Magic jersey over his shoulders again for the first time in five years.
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