“Fight on, Dribble on” is a weekly column by Joseph Domingot about how Trojans are performing in the NBA.
The NBA is entering the home stretch of the regular season and some former Trojans are balling out.
In the past seven days of NBA basketball, six former Trojans suited up and earned minutes on the hardwood.
With about six weeks left of the regular season, these Trojan basketball alums will look to contribute even more on playoff contending teams.
This week’s coverage highlights both a foreign-born Trojan and a Southern California native on potential playoff teams in their performances from the last week of February.
Nikola Vucevic
The Bulls have needed Nikola Vucevic’s difference-making offensive talent in recent weeks. In his last 11 games, the Montenegrin has scored 20-plus points on all but one occasion, and he’s averaging 22 points per game in those 11 outings.
The two-time NBA All-Star started off the last week of February away in New Orleans. On February 25, Vucevic recorded 22 points and 13 rebounds to help the Bulls earn a crucial victory against the West’s sixth-place Pelicans 114-106.
Two nights later, the 33-year-old made an efficient 12 of his 23 shot attempts for 25 points. However, against the lowly Detroit Pistons, the Bulls failed to capitalize with his offensive output. The Pistons beat the Bulls by double digits in a Central Division matchup.
In another divisional rivalry game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Vucevic played over 40 minutes in a double-overtime victory. Vucevic predominantly played in a power forward role, matching up against fellow former Trojan Evan Mobley.
The 33-year-old scored 24 points on 50% shooting from 3-point range and grabbed 13 boards. Vucevic collected his fourth double-double in as many games and his ninth in his last 11. The Bulls hope his offensive contribution can stay consistent for the team’s last 23 regular season games, with the team looking to earn a playoff berth for the first time since 2022.
De’Anthony Melton
After missing 17 consecutive games for the Philadelphia 76ers, De’Anthony Melton returned to action this past week. In 36 games played in 2023-2024, the North Hollywood native has started 33 of them. Melton has posted a career-high average in points per game this season, a possible result of the James Harden trade from Philadelphia to the Los Angeles Clippers in 2023, which created a scoring gap that Melton has helped fill.
In his first game since suffering a lumbar spine stress injury in early January, Melton started off the bench against Mobley’s Cavaliers on February 23. In just over 16 minutes played, the former Trojan scored seven points, going 100% from the charity stripe. The 76ers snatched a crucial inter-conference 104-97 victory.
Melton showcased his offensive prowess against the Milwaukee Bucks two nights later. “Mr. Do Something” scored 16 points and dished out three assists in only 18 minutes of action. Despite shooting 50% from behind the arc against Milwaukee, the 76ers could not keep up with the Bucks as Philadelphia lost by 21 points.
Things would go from bad to worse for the Sixers against the No. 1 seed Boston Celtics on Tuesday. The 2018 second-round draft pick would leave for the locker room after just nine minutes of playing time. Melton suffered back spasms against Boston, reaggravating the injury that previously kept him out for almost two months.
76ers head coach Nick Nurse said he is uncertain about Melton’s timetable to return to action.
The Sixers will hope their starting point guard Melton and the reigning MVP Joel Embiid return to make a playoff push in April.
“Fight on, Dribble on” runs every Friday.