Heat nemesis Nik Vucevic finds Magic after train crash

Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY Sports | USATODAY

The train rolled down the tracks on Jan. 23, 2006, from the mountain resort town of Kolasin in Montenegro to the coastal town of Bar.

Nik Vucevic, father Borislav Vucevic, members of his youth basketball team and hundreds of others were on the train that began picking up speed and then more and more speed.

"I was aware of what was going on," said Nik Vucevic, now a center for the Orlando Magic, who then was headed home after a team camp in the mountains as a 15-year-old.

Train employees told passengers the train's brakes weren't working properly and they should prepare for a crash. The train left the tracks and passenger cars tumbled into a ravine, killing 47 people and injuring nearly 200. A brake failure caused the train to speed out of control, according to court records.

"The worst part was that before the crash, we knew something was wrong with the train," Vucevic told USA TODAY Sports in a recent interview. "We didn't know what was going to happen. We were in the middle of the mountains. So you know if it falls off the rail, you don't where it's going to land.

"You don't know what is going to happen. Are you going to die? Are you going to live?"

Vucevic tells his story now as a burgeoning star for the Magic, who host the streaking Miami Heat on Monday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN). His improved play this season, particularly against the Heat, probably warrants a special section in the advanced scouting report. If the Heat are going to extend the second-best winning streak in NBA history to 27 games, limiting Vucevic's scoring and rebounding is paramount.

This success comes after a rookie season stuck on the bench with the Philadelphia 76ers. But patience is part of Vucevic's identity.

"It changed the way I look at life," Vucevic said. "I don't take anything for granted."

When that Montenegro train car stopped tumbling, he located his father, who began helping passengers off the train.

At 22, Vucevic already has a keen awareness of second chances — in life and in basketball.

Vucevic was unable to get consistent playing time last season under 76ers coach Doug Collins. When the Magic acquired Vucevic in August in the multi-team trade that sent Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers, Vucevic was relieved. He knew the Magic were prepared to give him regular minutes this season.

"I feel a lot more confident about my game, especially compared to last year," Vucevic said. "This year, I got a chance to play with a lot of minutes and a coach who believed in me made it easier to go out there and not think as much. Just go and play. I knew I was capable of playing at this level. I just needed a chance to prove it and I got it this year."

He's saved his best for the best.

In the past two games, Miami has needed overtime and a late comeback to beat Orlando, and Vucevic dominated the interior in both games — 20 points and a franchise-best 29 rebounds in the Heat's 112-110 overtime victory Dec. 31 and 25 points and 21 rebounds in Miami's 97-96 victory March 6.

"Nik has been unbelievable for us," Magic coach Jacque Vaughn said of the second-year big man. "The minutes add up and the experience adds up. The best sign is his competitive nature is really coming out, and that's probably the most impressive point."

Now, Miami may get lucky and face Orlando without Vucevic. He is day to day with a mild concussion and has missed Orlando's past two games.

His absence would damper Orlando's chances to beat Miami. After Miami's last victory over Orlando, Heat star LeBron James offered compliments to Vucevic.

"It's nice to hear what people say, especially if it comes from LeBron," Vucevic said. "He's the best the player in the NBA. If he says something good about you that means you've done something good."

Vucevic's accomplishments this season can't be overlooked and have made him a candidate for the NBA's most improved player award. The 7-footer is averaging 12.4 points and 11.5 rebounds a game as a first-time starter.

"He's been our most consistent player," Vaughn said.

Magic general manager Rob Hennigan knew what he was doing when Orlando finally traded Howard in August. Hennigan resisted Andrew Bynum for Howard straight up. Orlando didn't want Bynum and pursued other teams to acquire players they wanted.

Vucevic doesn't replace Howard but he is a bitter fit for Orlando's long-term plans. Plus, he is on his rookie contract and far from the salary drain Bynum would have been on the rebuilding Magic's salary cap. And he has plenty of skills around the basket, showing a gift for rebounding on both ends and adeptness at tipping in missed shots.

Vucevic is fourth in the league in rebounding, tied for seven in offensive rebounds per game, sixth in double-doubles and fifth in rebounding percentage, which is the percentage of available rebounds a player collects while on the floor — ahead of All-Star big men Howard, Zach Randolph of the Memphis Grizzlies, Tyson Chandler of the New York Knicks and Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs, according to NBA.com.

"My rebounding on both ends of the floor is my best quality," Vucevic said. "I always hang around the rim. I have a pretty good feeling for where the ball might bounce off. Rebounding is something that can keep me this league for while. I have a good feeling for the game. I know the game."

Vucevic has a growing mid-range game (48% from 10-14 feet) and the Magic will be pleased if he adds muscle to his 240-pound frame.

"He's getting a sense of the game — when he can be aggressive, getting a sense of when to pass the basketball, when the post-up position might not be comfortable for him and what to do when he's not comfortable. That's all part of him playing and his game developing," Vaughn said.

Vucevic grew up around the game. His father, Borislav, played several seasons in Europe and was a member, along with Drazen Petrovic, of Yugoslavia's national team that reached the quarterfinals in the 1985 European Championship. Vucevic plans to play for Montenegro in Eurobasket 2013.

His mother, Ljiljana, also played pro basketball in Europe, but she stopped playing before her son was born. His dad continued to play professionally until he was 44, in the early 2000s.

"My dad had a huge influence on me growing up. I went to almost every one of his practices and games," Vucevic said. "He was my idol my growing up. I felt like the cool kid. It was huge for me. He taught me everything about the game.

"Even today, he's still coaching me every day. When he's home, he got NBA League Pass, so the next morning when he wakes up he watches games and tells me how I did."