Tristan Vukčević Explained

Tristan Vukčević
Position:Power forward / center
Height Ft:7
Height In:0
Weight Lbs:230
League:NBA
Team:Washington Wizards
Number:00
Nationality:Serbian / Greek / Swedish
Birth Date:2003 3, df=yes
Birth Place:Siena, Italy
Draftyear:2023
Draftround:2
Draftpick:42
Draftteam:Washington Wizards
Career Start:2020
Years1:2019–2022
Team1:Real Madrid
Years2:2019–2022
Team2:Real Madrid B
Years3:2022–2024
Team3:Partizan Belgrade
Years4:–present
Team4:Washington Wizards
Years5:2024–present
Team5:Capital City Go-Go
Highlights:

Tristan Tsalikis Vukčević (Serbian: Тристан Цаликис Вукчевић, Τριστάν Τσαλίκης-Βούκτσεβιτς|Tristan Tsalikis-Vouktsevits; born 11 March 2003) is a Serbian-Swedish professional basketball player for the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Capital City Go-Go of the NBA G League.

Early life and youth career

Vukčević is the son of Jade and Dušan Vukčević. He was born in Siena, Italy as his father was playing for Montepaschi Siena. His father is a retired Bosnia-born Serbian professional basketball player who played for Crvena zvezda, Olympiacos, Real Madrid, Montepaschi, Olimpia Milano, Virtus Bologna, and others during his playing career as well as represented Serbia and Montenegro national team internationally.[1] His mother Jade (née Cicak) is a Greek-based Swedish businesswoman and former swimwear model. His mother’s parents emigrated to Sweden from the former Yugoslavia.[2] Vukčević holds Serbian and Greek passport through his father, and a Swedish passport through his mother.[3]

Vukčević grew up in Italy, where his father played professionally. Following Dušan's retirement, the family moved back to Athens, Greece. He started to play basketball for youth system of his father's former club Olympiacos. In 2018, Vukčević joined the U16 team of Spanish club Real Madrid,[4] another father's former club. Vukčević won the Munich Tournament for the 2019–20 Euroleague NGT season with U18 Real Madrid. Over four tournament games, he averaged 16 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.[5] Afterward, the Final Tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Professional career

Real Madrid (2019–2022)

On 2 September 2020, Vukčević made his pre-season debut for Real Madrid in a 68–66 win over Coosur Real Betis recording 8 points.[6] [7] On 11 October, he made his professional debut in a 90–65 win over Herbalife Gran Canaria recording 2 points and 2 rebounds in 4 minutes.[8]

Partizan Belgrade (2022–2024)

On 27 January 2022, Vukčević signed a multi-year contract with Partizan of the ABA League.[9] [10] In 2022–23 season, he won the ABA League championship title with Partizan. Over 22 ABA League games, he averaged 8.1 points and 3.2 rebounds on 58% shooting from the field. In EuroLeague, he had a more limited role within the team.

During the 2023–24 season, Vukčević averaged 4.2 points and 2.3 rebounds over 12 EuroLeague games. In ABA League, he appeared in 14 games, averaging 10.9 points and 3.6 rebounds on 54.4% shooting from the field.

On 13 March 2024, Vukčević parted ways with Partizan Belgrade to pursue his NBA career.[11]

Washington Wizards / Capital City Go-Go (2024–present)

Vukčević had a strong showing at the 2023 NBA Draft Combine, scoring 2 points in 17 minutes in the lone game he played.[12] He was subsequently selected with the 42nd overall pick by the Washington Wizards in the 2023 NBA draft.[13]

On 14 March 2024, Vukčević signed with the Wizards.[14] He managed to play in 10 NBA regular season games until the end of the season, averaging 8.5 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. On 3 July, he signed a two-way contract with Washington.[15] [16]

National team career

Due to his father's background, Vukčević is eligible to represent Greece, Bosnia and Herzegovina, or Serbia internationally, while due to his mother's background he is eligible to represent Sweden. Also, he is eligible to represent Italy or Spain.[17] [18] According to his father, Vukčević decided to represent Serbia internationally.[19]

Career statistics

NBA

|-| style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"| Washington| 10 || 4 || 15.3 || .433 || .278 || .773 || 3.6 || 1.3 || .5 || .7 || 8.5|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career| 10 || 4 || 15.3 || .433 || .278 || .773 || 3.6 || 1.3 || .5 || .7 || 8.5

EuroLeague

|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| Real Madrid| 3 || 1 || 9.2 || .375 || .000 || 1.000 || 1.7 || .0 || .0 || .3 || 2.3 || -1.0|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22| 9 || 1 || 6.4 || .412 || .333 || .500 || 1.2 || .2 || .0 || .2 || 2.1 || 1.6|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2022–23| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| Partizan| 13 || 2 || 6.4 || .300 || .222 || 1.000 || 1.2 || .5 || .3 || .2 || 1.2 || .1|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2023–24| 12 || 4 || 9.3 || .483 || .400 || .941 || 2.3 || .5 || .2 || .4 || 4.2 || 5.1|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career| 37 || 8 || 7.7 || .405 || .297 || .870 || 1.6 || .4 || .2 || .3 || 2.5 || 2.0

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: KRV NIJE VODA: Jedan od najtalentovanijih mladih košarkaša želi da igra za Srbiju! Otac mu je bivši reprezentativac (VIDEO). Kurir.rs. 15 April 2019. 3 September 2020. Serbian.
  2. Web site: About Jade V.. JadeVTales.com. 3 September 2020.
  3. Web site: Enigma Tristan Vukčević. KosMagazin.com. 20 January 2020. 3 September 2020. Serbian.
  4. Web site: Ala-pívot Tristan. RealMadrid.com. 3 September 2020.
  5. Web site: TSALIKIS, TRISTAN U18 Real Madrid. AdidasNGT.com. 3 September 2020.
  6. Web site: Tristan Vukcevic steals the show in debut with Real Madrid's senior team. EuroHoops.net. 2 September 2020. 3 September 2020.
  7. Web site: 68–66: Segunda victoria de la pretemporada. RealMadrid.com. 2 September 2020. 3 September 2020. Spanish.
  8. Web site: October 2020, Herbalife GC 65–90 Real Madrid. ACB.com. 12 October 2020.
  9. Web site: Tristan Vukčević potpisao za Partizan. b92.net. 27 January 2022. 27 January 2022. Serbian.
  10. Web site: Tristan Vukčević pens multi-year contract with Partizan NIS. ABA-Liga.com. 27 January 2022. 27 January 2022.
  11. News: Tristan Vukčević više nije košarkaš Partizana. Politika.rs. 13 March 2024. 13 March 2024. Serbian.
  12. Web site: Colin. Gallant. Tristan Vukcevic will remain in 2023 NBA Draft after Combine standout. ClutchPoints.com. 12 June 2023. 23 June 2023.
  13. Web site: 2023 NBA Draft Results: Picks 1-58. NBA.com. 23 June 2023.
  14. Web site: Wizards Sign Vukcevic. NBA.com. 14 March 2024. 14 March 2024.
  15. Web site: Luke. Adams. Wizards Re-Sign Tristan Vukcevic To Two-Way Deal. HoopsRumors.com. 3 July 2024. 3 July 2024.
  16. Web site: Wizards Sign Vukcevic to Two-Way Contract. NBA.com. 3 July 2024. 3 July 2024.
  17. Web site: MAJKA ŠVEĐANKA, OTAC SA GRČKIM DRŽAVLJANSTVOM! Iz Real Madrida u REPREZENTACIJU Srbije! Kokoškov dobija veliko pojačanje. Sport.Blic.rs. 29 June 2020. 3 September 2020. Serbian.
  18. Web site: Tristan Vukčević – Srbija pre Bosne, Grčke, Švedske, Italije i Španije. b92.net. 29 September 2021. 30 September 2021. Serbian.
  19. Web site: Vukčević o Vukčeviću: Tristan kaže da nikad više nije trenirao, jedva čekamo da bude na spisku Srbije. MozzartSport.com. 28 February 2022. 1 March 2022. Serbian.