101 Greats of European Basketball

Vladimir Stankovic
nonetheless, had an impressive EuroLeague season
with 17.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.
Double EuroLeague champ
The awaited moment came at the 2004 Final Four,
played in Tel Aviv, where Maccabi had advanced thanks
to Derrick Sharp’s miracle three-pointer against Zalgiris
in the last game of the Top 16. Maccabi had its biggest
problem in the semifinals against CSKA Moscow but
still won 93-85 as Vujcic had 14 points, 7 rebounds, 2
assists and 2 steals. In the title game against Skipper
Bologna, the Yellow team rolled to an unforgettable,
multiple record-breaking 118-74 win to lift the trophy.
Vujcic was needed for just 9 points and added 1 rebound,
way below his season averages of 16.8 points,
6.9 rebounds and 3 assists. But he was nonetheless a
major contributor to his first EuroLeague title, having
been named to the All-EuroLeague team for the second
consecutive year.
The following season, Maccabi was the first team to
repeat as EuroLeague champ since Jugoplastika Split’s
three-peat from 1989 to 1991. In the Final Four played
in Moscow, Maccabi defeated Panathinaikos in the
semis 91-82 with Derrick Sharp as the main scorer with
20 points while Vujcic had 11 points and 5 rebounds.
In the title game, Maccabi downed Tau Ceramica 90-78.
Sarunas Jasikevicius was the hero with 22 points, and
Vujcic contributed 13 points plus 7 boards.
Thanks to his experience but, most of all, to his talent,
Vujcic started adding assists – and many of them
– to his repertoire. On November 3, 2005, he entered
the history books by becoming the first player to ever
record a triple-double in the EuroLeague. It was against
Prokom for a 95-68 Maccabi win, and in 32 minutes Vujcic
scored 11 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and dished
11 assists! At the end of that season, Maccabi was close
to completing its own three-peat. In the Prague Final
Four, Maccabi defeated Tau Ceramica in the semis 85-
70 with a great Maceo Baston (20 points, 7 rebounds)
and Anthony Parker (19 points). Vujcic threatened another
triple-double with 18 points, 8 rebounds and 7
assists. However, in the title game, CSKA Moscow was
the better team, winning 73-69, as Vujcic didn’t have
the best of nights (4 points, 5 rebounds and 1 assist).
In the 2006-07 season, Vujcic recorded another
triple-double, this one during a 110-87 victory against
Union Olimpija. He finished with 27 points, 10 rebounds
and 10 assists – and all that in only 26 minutes!
Vujcic was a complete player, with many resources
on both offense and defense. For a big man, he had a
great long-range shot, all the way out to three-point
range. His great advantage was his technique and his
long hands. He also had that sixth sense to get good
position and grab the ball after a teammate missed a
shot. His shooting had perfect timing. At the end of the
2005, 2006 and 2007 seasons, he was included in the
All-Euroleague First Team.
Neven Spahija, Croatia’s head coach at the 2005
EuroBasket in Belgrade, where Croatia deserved much
better than seventh place (having lost to Spain 101-85
in the quarterfinals after overtime), was also Vujcic’s
coach at Maccabi for the 2006-07 season. He told me
this about Nikola:
“For his characteristics and his character, he was
one of the best players I ever coached in my career. He
was a point guard playing ‘five’, a coach’s brain on the
court. His legs were a bit slow, especially at the beginning
of his career, but with hard work from his coaches,
he improved that, too. His other qualities made up for
that lack of speed in his legs. Personally, he helped me a
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