So Nikola Vucevic might be able to shoot again…

Have you ever heard one of those crazy stories about a dog or cat that travels hundreds of miles to magically appear on its owner's doorstep? That's how I feel about Nikola Vucevic's three-point shot.

The big man's ability to shoot from long range has felt like a distant memory in recent seasons. After coming to the organization with a 40.0 percent shooting percentage on good volume, he shot just 32.0 percent from downtown in his three full seasons with the team. Things reached their lowest point in the 2023-24 season when the defense even started to falter under the big man. His 29.4 success rate from behind the arc marked his worst since he began scoring at least 1.0 attempts per game in the 2016-17 season.

Considering Vucevic's lack of raw athleticism and defensive acumen, his ability to find space on the floor always felt extremely important. Sure, he was a one-sided player, but he was one of the very few true centers who could survive along the perimeter and thrive in a more modern system. The consistent rebounding coupled with the offensive versatility was a justifiably rare and valuable combination. And that's exactly why he was able to field two All-Star squads.

Unfortunately, it felt like this version of Vucevic was fading more and more quickly over the last few seasons. He still showed above-average rebounding and post skills, but whether or not he was someone who could be considered an impact player was a fair question.

Well, he has cleared up some of those questions to start this year.

Vucevic's first week of the NBA season was great. The big man has scored at least 21 points in three of the Bulls' four games and started the season with three straight double-doubles!

Nikola Vucevic's first four games

@ Pelicans – 21 PTS (8-12 FG, 1-2 3PT), 11 REB, 1 AST
@ Bucks – 22 PTS (7-17 FG, 4-9 3PT), 10 REB, 4 AST
vs. OKC – 18 PTS (7-12 FG, 2-2 3PT), 13 REB, 2 AST
@ Grizzlies – 22 PTS (9-19 FG, 4-8 3PT), 7 REB, 5 AST

The Chicago Bulls' new uptempo style of play seemed only likely to continue to expose Vucevic's weakness, but the veteran has fit in surprisingly well. One reason for this is his underrated passing ability, which helps Chicago make quick decisions in the halfcourt. The main reason, however, was undoubtedly the return of his three-point shot.

As you can see above, Vucevic shoots a pretty impressive 11-for-21 record from behind the arc to start the season. He has made at least four shots from downtown in two of his four games. He had ZERO performances like that last season. His 5.3 attempts per game also happen to be his most since 2020-21, when he was first traded to Chicago.

By blocking those shots again, he allows the Bulls offense to make the changes it wants. Chicago now plays a legitimate five-out system that keeps the middle of the field free for off-ball moves or aggressive attacks to the rim. They also shot 46.8 three-point attempts per game to start the year, which is second in the NBA!

Of course, I say all this knowing that we are only four games into the season. Vucevic will no longer be able to continue shooting 52.4 percent from the field on 5.3 attempts per game. A low is coming. However, I think it's fair to say that Vucevic has given us reason to believe he's figured something out in this area. This is great news for the identity the bulls are trying to establish… as well as for the trade discussions that could take place in the future. But that's a conversation for another day!