Veteran Center Vucevic Receives Warm Welcome in Celtics Debut

Boston fans give standing ovation to newly acquired big man in Friday night matchup against Heat.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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Veteran center Nikola Vucevic made his debut for the Boston Celtics on Friday night, receiving a standing ovation from the home crowd at TD Garden. Vucevic was recently traded to the Celtics from the Chicago Bulls, and will provide the team with additional rebounding and offensive production for the remainder of the 2025-26 NBA season.

Why it matters

Vucevic is a proven NBA veteran who should help bolster the Celtics' frontcourt as they make a push for the playoffs. His arrival is seen as an important move by the team to improve their chances of contending for a championship this season.

The details

Vucevic saw his six-year stint with the Chicago Bulls come to an end this week, as the Celtics acquired him in a trade that sent Anfernee Simons to the Bulls. Vucevic is expected to provide high-quality rebounding and a solid offensive game that will benefit the Celtics' attack for the rest of the season.

  • Vucevic made his Celtics debut on Friday, February 7, 2026.

The players

Nikola Vucevic

A veteran NBA center who was recently traded from the Chicago Bulls to the Boston Celtics.

Anfernee Simons

A young guard who was traded from the Boston Celtics to the Chicago Bulls as part of the deal that brought Vucevic to Boston.

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The takeaway

Vucevic's arrival in Boston is seen as an important move to bolster the Celtics' frontcourt and improve their chances of contending for a championship this season. The veteran center's experience and skill set should provide a valuable boost to the team as they make a push for the playoffs.