Tristan Vukcevic hasn't been talked about enough this offseason following his impressive play down the stretch last season.
Following a pile up of injuries for the Wizards last season, Vukcevic found himself earning an increased role in the final two months of the season.
The former second-round pick turned heads in April, averaging 18.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and two assists per game.
Not only did Vukcevic play well, but in only 25 minutes per game throughout that stretch, those averages were enough to give the front office hope that the 7-footer could carve out a role on the team moving forward.
The 22-year-old managed to ink a two-way deal with the Wizards this offseason, and while he may not have earned a standard deal, there's still a chance that he finds himself being called up at some point this season, especially if Vukcevic offseason work with former MVP Nikola Jokic really does pay off.
Like Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly and Kyshawn George, Vukcevic found himself in the position to represent his home country this offseason during FIBA EuroBasket play.
As a Serbian native, the big man got the opportunity to play alongside not only one of the best players from Serbia, but one of the best players from the NBA.
Playing alongside Nikola Jokic has plenty of benefits.
For starters, the supporting cast around him has the luxury of having the pressure taken off them with a talent like Jokic running the show.
However, arguably the biggest benefit to playing alongside the Denver Nuggets star for a player like Vukcevic is having the opportunity to pick his brain about his game.
Vukcevic made it clear that learning under Jokic during his time alongside the NBA champion throughout EuroBasket play was a priority of his.
And if he truly did learn from Jokic like he suggests, the Wizards could have yet another breakout candidate on their hands.
“Seeing how he practices and how he plays really helped me," Vukcevic said when asked about Jokic on Monday. " and IQ, like how to read the game, especially because we play the same position.”
Jokic, another former second-round pick has developed into one of the premiere talents and faces of the NBA and not only because his talent is off the charts, but because he's one of the smartest players in the league.
If Vukcevic can use what he learned to apply to his career, the early signs mixed with what's to come could be huge for the Wizards and their young big man moving forward.