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Tristan Vukcevic, Partizan: 'I wanted to be even better than my father'

Tristan Vukcevic, Partizan: 'I wanted to be even better than my father'

Interviews

26 October 20225 Mins read

Tristan Vukcevic, Partizan: 'I wanted to be even better than my father'

This is the third season that teenager Tristan Vukcevic has been part of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, though it's his first with Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade. One of Europe's most promising young stars, Vukcevic is an athletic forward with a sweet shooting touch. He is also the son of Dusan Vukcevic, a former EuroLeague star himself.

The elder Vukcevic left his mark during his two-decade-long playing career wearing the uniforms of Crvena Zvezda Belgrade, Olympiacos Piraeus, Real Madrid, Montepaschi Siena, Virtus Bologna and Olimpia Milan, among others. His career also gave Tristan a chance to see the ins and outs of professional basketball from a very early age.

"I remember going to the games when I was a little boy," Tristan said. "It always felt nice. I wanted to do it from the start."

The younger Vukcevic, today 19 years old, picked up basketball right away and already at 13 years old decided he would like to do it for living, just like his dad.

"I said I really want to play basketball, and that's what I want to do in my life. My father, I always looked up to him and I wanted to be even better," said Tristan.

Tristan played for a local club in Greece before joining the Olympiacos Piraeus academy. In 2018, he drew interest from Real Madrid and joined their academy. He made his professional debut with Real Madrid during the 2020-21 season and made his EuroLeague debut in the 2021 EuroLeague Playoffs against eventual champion Anadolu Efes Istanbul.

Playing for EuroLeague powerhouses throughout his young career, Tristan has been fortunate to get advice from some of the greatest basketball legends. At Real Madrid, it was from Felipe Reyes.

"From the jump, he was always helping me [in Madrid]", said Tristan, who also had the privilege to first watch and then play pick-up games with Vassilis Spanoulis, one of his father's close friends. "When I was at Olympiacos academy, you always went and watched him. I was hoping to play against him, but unfortunately, he retired."

Still, Tristan got the chance to play some one-on-one against Spanoulis during a family vacation at Costa Navarino, in Greece.

"For sure, I seek advice from my dad every day. And he gives me advice every day, too."

"He showed me many things," Tristan recalled. "He reminded me to stay low, play physical. I got a feel for that killer mentality and always going 100 percent. No matter how tired you are, give your best."

Getting advice from a few of the all-time stars of European basketball has always given Tristan a huge boost, but his greatest support has come from his parents. And his go-to guy for getting advice has been his father.

"For sure, I seek advice from my dad every day. And he gives me advice every day, too. Now, he is also a coach, so he is learning more stuff so he is telling me even more," Tristan laughed.

Tristan stressed how his father, now an assistant coach on Spanoulis's staff at Peristeri Athens, has always encouraged him with advice that has been both specific as well as general things that could make a big difference, especially at an early age for a young pro.

"My dad told me to always be focused on basketball. Basketball is my new life, so I have to give it my all. I got to go hard every day, think about it when I am home, even on vacation," Tristan said.

At the start of this calendar year, in January, Vukcevic returned home and joined Partizan. Having been born in Italy to a Serbian father and a Swedish mother, spending a big part of his childhood in Greece and then four teenage years in Madrid, Vukcevic has many homes. But Serbia and Greece are where he feels most comfortable.

The decision to join Serbian powerhouse Partizan was, in the end, Tristan's, but not before he sought a word from his family.

"It is a family thing. We were looking into options and we discussed that Partizan is probably the best option because I am in Belgrade, I'm at home, I know the language, it is not a new setting for me," Tristan explained. "And obviously, it is Zeljko [Obradovic]. If Zeljko calls you, it is difficult to say no. So, that's what we all said."

With his parents in Greece, Tristan lived on his own for the four years he was in Madrid. But having his uncles and grandparents around at all times is a good feeling for the youngster who has made three appearances in the EuroLeague and has averaged 8.5 points and 2.8 rebounds in the Adriatic League so far this season.

Three months shy of his 20th birthday, Tristan is on a path to doing great things in basketball and it makes it even more enjoyable to have a former player, his dad, alongside for the journey.

"Obviously, we have not been through the same things, but he has been giving me advice my whole life. Knowing and having someone next to you who has been going through the same path as you, and has a basketball career, it's amazing," Tristan summed up.