{"id":599512,"date":"2026-02-12T19:48:21","date_gmt":"2026-02-12T19:48:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/599512\/"},"modified":"2026-02-12T19:48:21","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T19:48:21","slug":"nikola-vucevic-sends-brutal-message-after-celtics-trade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/599512\/","title":{"rendered":"Nikola Vucevic sends brutal message after Celtics trade"},"content":{"rendered":"

Former Chicago Bulls<\/a> center Nikola Vucevic wanted a chance to compete for an NBA championship.<\/p>\n

More News: Bulls HC Billy Donovan pessimistic on team outlook<\/a><\/p>\n

That wasn\u2019t going to happen with the Bulls this season, and he seems right at home with the Boston Celtics.<\/p>\n

Off the bench, Vucevic was third in scoring for the Celtics with 19 points and 11 rebounds (game high) in a 124-105 win over the Bulls in front of 19,156 fans at TD Garden on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n

Vucevic was brought to Boston to help the team chase a championship this spring. He\u2019s been key in adding points and rebounds for the Celtics, scoring double-digits in each of the three games he\u2019s played for Boston since the trade from Chicago.<\/p>\n

He earned 12 rebounds in Boston\u2019s 98-96 win over the Miami Heat on Feb. 6.<\/p>\n

Nikola Vucevic has brutal message for Chicago Bulls
\n\"DecDec 7, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic (9) stands on the court during the second half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

More News: Bulls Executive VP appears to take shot at Coby White after Hornets trade<\/a><\/p>\n

Vucevic told reporters on Wednesday that he notices a big change in the culture between the Bulls and Celtics. It was a brutal message<\/a> for Chicago\u2019s front office.<\/p>\n

They really feel like they have another chance at it,\u201d he said, via Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times. \u201cSo you can really feel it. It just comes with the culture of having done it so much and having done it recently\u2026 They\u2019re really focused on winning now and going deep in the postseason, and you can really tell.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust the situation they\u2019re in, it was different in Chicago because they were a younger team, trying to figure out the next move and the pieces, things like that. Here, you definitely feel that. It\u2019s a good opportunity for me, and I hope I can make the best out of it, help this team achieve its goals.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Bulls are quickly falling out of position to even make the Play-In Tournament. After Wednesday night\u2019s loss, Chicago fell to 24-31, and are 11th in the Eastern Conference, 1.5 games back from the 10th place Atlanta Hawks.<\/p>\n

Boston is in second place in the conference with a 35-19 record, 5.5 games back from the Detroit Pistons.<\/p>\n

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