Due to the prolonged NBA lockout, the learning curve for rookies entering the league this season will be significantly steeper.
One of those rookies, former USC forward Nikola Vucevic, will get his first taste of live action tonight after just one week of training camp, when Nick Young and the Washington Wizards host the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wachovia Center for an exhibition game.
During the 2010-2011 season, Vucevic led the Trojans in scoring (17.1 points per game) and rebounds (10.3 rebounds per game) en route to a berth in the First Four round of the NCAA Tournament.Â
In June's draft, the Bar, Montenegro native was selected 16th overall by Philadelphia, becoming the fourth USC player (O.J. Mayo, Demar Derozan and Taj Gibson) to be taken in the 1st round over the last five years.
                     Nikola Vucevic is set to make his NBA debut tonight in D.C.
