Nikola Vucevic passed on free agency to return to the Chicago Bulls, signing a three-year, $60 million deal on Wednesday

“During his time in Chicago, Nikola has proven that he is a special player both on and off the court,” Bulls executive vice president Arturas Karnisovas said in a statement. “He has produced at an elite level since we acquired him and will remain an integral part of our foundation moving forward. Nikola’s willingness to do whatever is asked of him to help us win, while also being an established veteran leader for our group, makes him a valuable component of the culture of our organization. He is a consummate professional and tremendous teammate, which plays a big role in making us an attractive destination for other players. We are excited to have him continue to be part of our journey.

Vucevic, 32, started all 82 games last season, the first time he played every game in a season during his 12-year career. He averaged 17.6 points and 11.0 rebounds per game and was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on Friday.

“Since I have arrived in Chicago, everyone in the organization has been incredibly welcoming to my family and me. I am motivated more than ever to achieve our mutual goals as a team,” Vucevic said.

Vucevic is averaging 17.0 points and 10.5 points per game in 823 career games (762 starts) with Philadelphia (2011-12), Orlando (2012-21) and the Bulls

The Bulls acquired him in a trade with the Magic in March 2021, forfeiting Wendell Carter and first-round picks in 2021 and 2023 in the deal

–Field Level Media