In a recent interview with Meridian Sports (via HoopsHype), Chicago Bulls star Nikola Vucevic was asked how much longer he wants to play in the NBA.

“I realize I’ve been in the NBA for 13 years and the end is not far away,” Vucevic said. “I don’t think I’ll play another 13 years, but I have two more years with Chicago and after that I’d like to play another two years.”

The two-time NBA All-Star added: “I think I can continue at a high level for that long, and after that, we’ll see. I don’t think about it a lot right now… I’d like people to remember me for who I was, for my accomplishments, and not for being past my prime. I want to be the one who says, ‘Thank you’ when it’s time to go.”

Nikola Vucevic

Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) defends Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic (9) during the first quarter at the United Center. / David Banks-Imagn Images

Many interpreted this as Vucevic announcing that he would only play four more years, but in a new interview with NBA Insider Marc Stein via SubstackThe Bulls center revealed what he meant.

“I think it’s a little frowned upon,” Vucevic said. “It’s not that I want to play four more years. It’s just that … they were asking me if I was thinking about retiring. I was just like, ‘I’m retiring?’ In my mind, I’ve got at least four more years and I want to see what I can do from there.”

Vucevic added: “But I said to myself that I want to play four more years. I have two years left on my contract. And hopefully I can do two more after that, which will take me to 37. And at that point, I’ll see what I want to do. It’s more of a high-level four years. Maybe in two years, I’ll say four more. I said it at the time, I didn’t think it would become such a thing.”

Vucevic wouldn’t say how much longer he plans to play, but he made it clear what he meant by those comments. He has two years left on his three-year, $60 million contract, and Vucevic will evaluate the situation after that contract expires.

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