Tristan Vukčević

Tristan Vukčević
Vukčević in 2023 with Partizan
No. 00 – Washington Wizards
PositionPower forward / center
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (2003-03-11) 11 March 2003 (age 21)
Siena, Italy
NationalitySerbian / Greek / Swedish
Listed height6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
NBA draft2023: 2nd round, 42nd overall pick
Selected by the Washington Wizards
Playing career2020–present
Career history
2019–2022Real Madrid
2019–2022→Real Madrid B
2022–2024Partizan Belgrade
2024–presentWashington Wizards
2024–present→Capital City Go-Go
Career highlights and awards
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Tristan Tsalikis Vukčević (Serbian Cyrillic: Тристан Цаликис Вукчевић, Greek: Τριστάν Τσαλίκης-Βούκτσεβιτς, romanized: 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.[a] 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] During his three seasons at the club, Vukčević played 75 games and scored 453 points along with 198 rebounds and 48 assists.

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

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  PIR  Performance Index Rating
 Bold  Career high

NBA

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2023–24 Washington 10 4 15.3 .433 .278 .773 3.6 1.3 .5 .7 8.5
Career 10 4 15.3 .433 .278 .773 3.6 1.3 .5 .7 8.5

EuroLeague

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG PIR
2020–21 Real Madrid 3 1 9.2 .375 .000 1.000 1.7 .0 .0 .3 2.3 -1.0
2021–22 9 1 6.4 .412 .333 .500 1.2 .2 .0 .2 2.1 1.6
2022–23 Partizan 13 2 6.4 .300 .222 1.000 1.2 .5 .3 .2 1.2 .1
2023–24 12 4 9.3 .483 .400 .941 2.3 .5 .2 .4 4.2 5.1
Career 37 8 7.7 .405 .297 .870 1.6 .4 .2 .3 2.5 2.0

See also

Notes

  1. ^ His father added name Tsalikis to his family name when obtained a Greek citizenship.

References

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