Nikola Vucevic says unfinished business spurred him to return to Chicago: "I felt like we had to give it another shot"

Vooch has some wok undone in the Windy City.

All-Star center Nikola Vucevic did not take long to decide on where he’ll be playing basketball for the next three years. Set to become an unrestricted free agent who would undoubtedly have attracted serious interest from contenders, he chose to remain with the Chicago Bulls.

In comments made during the team’s media day, Vucevic said it was unfinished business that led him to return to the Windy City.

“I felt like there was a lot of work undone,” Vooch said. “I felt like this team had a lot more to show and improve on. So it was a lot of stuff I discussed with a lot of guys around the team when I was making my decision.”

Another shot

Last season left a bitter taste in everyone’s mouth. After their scintillating run in 2022, where they finished as the sixth seed before bowing out of the postseason at the hands of the Milwaukee Bucks, the Bulls suddenly lost their mojo and struggled to find a rhythm all of last season. The coup de grace was their exit from the Play-in Tournament, losing at the hands of the Miami Heat. Vooch says there’s plenty of meat left on the bone.

“I don’t know if we’ll get to it. But I felt like we had to give it another shot. I just felt like we didn’t show our best, and we all still have a little bit of that chip on the shoulder to have a better season, play better as a team, and that was a big part of my decision,” Vucevic said.

Help the team be better

The Bulls gave up precious draft picks to bring Vucevic to the Windy City at the trade deadline of 2021. He knows their commitment to him, and he’s ready to repay the favor.

“Chicago traded for me. They brought me here. They gave up a lot for me. And so I felt a responsibility to come back and help the team do better than we did. I don’t know what that will be in the end. But that’s just kind of how I felt.”