Tristan Vukcevic

Position: PF/C

Team: Partizan Belgrade, Serbia

Height: 213 cm / 7’0″

Weight: 101 kg / 223 lbs

Wingspan:  219 cm / 7’2.5″

Born: March 11, 2003

Tristan Vukčević was probably the player that had the hardest job to crack in the rotation of his team. Partizan played on the highest international level and it is hard for young players to get constant playing time in those teams. That makes the job of evaluating his skills much harder and in this season Tristan played about 400 minutes in Euroleague and ABA League combined. He got more opportunity in the ABA League and usually when he got 10 or more minutes of playing time, he used that opportunity well. His best game was against Zadar when he scored 25 points and had 9 rebounds. He had a great showing at the NBA Draft Combine too when he was the best scorer on one match with 21 points and shooting 8/10 from the field. In that game amongst others, he showed a lot of the stuff that he can offer to a potential NBA team. 

STATS

• Averages:

ABA League: 22 games, 14:50 min, 8.1 pts, 3.2 reb (0.8 off reb), 1.0 ast, 0.5 stl, 0.5 blk (70.1 % 2P%, 40.0 % 3P%, 81.1 % FT%)

Euroleague: 13 games, 6:38 min, 1.2 pts, 1.2 reb (0.2 off reb), 0.5 ast, 0.3 stl, 0.2 blk (36.4 % 2P%, 22.2 % 3P%, 100% FT%)

• Per40:

ABA League: 21.8 pts, 8.6 reb (2.1 off reb), 2.8 ast, 1.3 stl, 1.3 blk

Euroleague: 7.0 pts, 7.0 reb (0.9 off reb), 3.2 ast, 1.9 stl, 1.4 blk

• Advanced Stats:

ABA League: 124.2 ORTG, 105.9 DRTG, 69.4 % TS%, 7.7 OREB%, 21.0 DREB%, 14.8 REB%, 12.1 AST%, 1.9 STL%, 3.7 BLK%

Euroleague: 78.9 ORTG, 113.8 DRTG, 36.7 % TS%, 3.0 OREB%, 19.6 DREB%, 11.4 REB%, 12.3 AST%, 2.7 STL%, 4.0 BLK% 

STRENGTHS

• Solid perimeter game for a player his size & position
• Able to stretch the floor and knocking down shots from deep – pretty smooth shooting mechanics
• Capable of putting the ball to the floor and attack the closeouts – uses long strides to get to the rim, good body control & footwork on drives too
• Runs the floor well – fluid, agile and has great court feel
• Showing some upside as passer and ball mover
• Good rebounder – showing good feel and collecting rebounds even though he is not the most athletic player

IMPROVEMENT AREAS

• Pick & roll game – he rarely rolls to the rim after he sets the screen and feels more convenient behind the three point line
• Inconsistent shooter and has ups & downs
• Interior game – needs to add some post up game and get more versatile as scorer
• Average rim protector but showing decent instincts for blocks
• Struggling when he needs to defend on perimeter – reactions are often poor and better guards can exploit that, doesn’t cover much ground
• Defensive reads – often he made a wrong read and has fallen for a cheap trick and then he made a foul to stop the play

OUTLOOK 

Tristan Vukčević has some of the skills that NBA front offices are looking for in a modern big man. His ability to stretch the floor and operate from the outside in is definitely his main selling point at the moment and he could perfectly fit in the role of a stretch big. If he adds more versatility as a scorer, especially closer to the rim, that would make him an even more valuable asset for his team. Tristan’s offensive package fits the NBA needs but there are liabilities on the defensive side of the floor. In my opinion, some of the defensive issues will improve over time when he gets more used to his body and with more playing time just to get the neccessary defensive consistency. His offensive package and upside is intriguing and he could hear his name being called out in the early 2nd round when a team will pick him as a draft & stash candidate or a development piece, that will turn into a rotation player over the next few years.

Tristan Tsalikis-Vouktsevits (PF | 211 cm | ‘03) ~ Real Madrid

Tristan could be, in my opinion, in conversations for the All Tournament Five on this tournament. He played a good tournament, even though the shots from distance weren’t falling in. He was 0/10 from three point range but showed a consistent shot from the free throw line with 24/29 (82.8%) which is very good for this level and his size. He showed some good touch around the rim, ran the floor really well – scored some easy points in transition. He has great length but needs to put on more muscle and become tougher. Also missed more energy and poise from him on the court. His legs in defense have improved but still not on the highest level but can contest the shots pretty well with his length. Wasn’t protecting the rim the best during the tournament but showed some rim protection ability in the finals vs Stellazzura where he blocked 4 shots.

TRISTAN VUKCEVIC (BIG, GREECE/SERBIA) – Maybe wasn’t as good and productive as other 2003 players but definitely showed flashes of great upside. Already has highly desirable height. Was eager to make defensive impact by contesting shots. Can’t bend his knees much and is a little slow footed at this point of physical development because of growing. Tried to shot it from outside (looked kinda promising) and put the ball on the floor several times. Will most kiley play for Greece in future. Enough talent to hope he plays for Olympiacos senior team one day.