Growing up in Montenegro, football was Mirotić's true passion. As he got older, his family realized his height could be a lot more useful for another sport. At the age of 13, his grandfather introduced him to basketball.[3] Mirotić started playing basketball with the Joker School in Podgorica[4] run by retired professional basketball player Jadran Vujačić.
In the summer of 2005, at the age of 14, Mirotić signed a junior contract with Real Madrid.
Professional career
Real Madrid (2008–2014)
After playing for the Real Madrid juniors from 2006 to 2008, Mirotić signed with the Real Madrid senior team in 2008. During the 2010–11 Euroleague season, he emerged as one of his team's most valuable players, and won the EuroLeague Rising Star award.[5] In April 2011, he signed a five-year contract extension with Real Madrid.[6] With Real Madrid, he won the Spanish King's Cup and the Spanish Supercup in 2012.
In a total of 97 EuroLeague games for Real Madrid, Mirotić averaged 10.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.[11]
Chicago Bulls (2014–2018)
2014–15 season
On 18 July 2014, Mirotić signed with the Chicago Bulls[12] to a reported three-year, $16.6 million contract.[13] In addition, Mirotić was required to pay $3 million to Real Madrid for his contract buyout.[14]
On 19 December 2014, Mirotić scored a then career-high 27 points, as he converted all six of his three-pointers, in a 103–97 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.[15] On 5 January 2015, he was named the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for games played in December.[16] During the NBA's All-Star Weekend, Mirotić played for World Team in the Rising Stars Challenge. He scored 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field in the World's 121–112 win over Team USA.[17] On 1 March, he scored a career-high 29 points in a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.[18] With injuries impacting teammates during the month of March, Mirotić was expected to fill a larger role for his team. He averaged 20.8 points and 7.6 rebounds while playing 30.8 minutes per game.[19][20] In his rookie season, Mirotić averaged 10.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 82 games,[21] giving him the recognition as a candidate for the Rookie of the Year Award.[22] Mirotić finished second in Rookie of the Year voting with 335 votes behind Andrew Wiggins who received 604 votes.[23] He played his first post-season game in the NBA on 18 April 2015 in game 1 of the Bulls' first-round series match-up against the Milwaukee Bucks. In 13 minutes off the bench, he recorded 5 points and 5 rebounds.[24]
2015–16 season
At the beginning of the 2015–16 season, Mirotić had a starting role ahead of All-Star center Joakim Noah. He scored a team-high 19 points in the season opening win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.[25] He started in all 18 games to begin the season, coming off the bench for the first time on 9 December against the Boston Celtics, scoring 10 points in 22 minutes of action.[26] He continued coming off the bench following 9 December, in a back-up role to Taj Gibson.[27] His next start came on 21 December against the Brooklyn Nets, as he started at small forward in place of Tony Snell.[28] On 1 January, he recorded 17 points and a career-high seven assists in a 108–81 win over the New York Knicks.[29] On 27 January, he was diagnosed with an acute appendicitis and was subsequently ruled out until after the All-Star break.[30] He returned to action on 5 March against the Houston Rockets after missing 16 games.[31] On 23 March, he scored a career-high 35 points in a loss to the New York Knicks.[32]
2016–17 season
On 26 December 2016, less than two weeks after falling out of the rotation for a couple of games, Mirotić recorded a then-season-high 20 points in a 90–85 win over the Indiana Pacers.[33] After not playing by coach's decision in two straight games in early March so that management and the coaching staff could look at Joffrey Lauvergne, Mirotić landed on the inactive list.[34] On 13 March, he returned from a three-game absence and scored 24 points on five three-pointers in a 115–109 win over the Charlotte Hornets.[35] On 22 March, he scored a season-high 28 points in a 117–95 win over the Detroit Pistons.[36] Four days later, he tied his season high with another 28-point effort in a 109–94 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.[37] He had a third 28-point game on 30 March in a 99–93 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. He had six three-pointers against both Milwaukee and Cleveland, becoming the first Bulls player to hit six or more three-pointers in back-to-back games.[38]
2017–18 season
On 25 September 2017, Mirotić re-signed with the Bulls.[39] On 17 October 2017, Mirotić was sent to the hospital after engaging in a physical altercation with teammate Bobby Portis during practice. Portis punched Mirotić in the face resulting in Mirotić suffering a concussion and multiple facial fractures.[40][41] Mirotić made his season debut on 8 December, scoring six points in 14 minutes in a 119–111 overtime win over the Charlotte Hornets.[42] On 11 December, he scored 24 points in his first start of the season in a 108–85 win over the Boston Celtics. He hit 9 of 14 shots and grabbed eight rebounds in his third appearance.[43] On 13 December, he scored 29 points on 11-of-18 shooting with nine rebounds in a 103–100 win over the Utah Jazz.[44] On 26 December, he came off the bench to score 24 points in 28 minutes, as the Bulls won for the eighth time in 10 games, beating the Milwaukee Bucks 115–106.[45]
New Orleans Pelicans (2018–2019)
On 1 February 2018, Mirotić was traded, along with a 2018 second-round pick, to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for Ömer Aşık, Tony Allen, Jameer Nelson, a 2018 first-round pick and the right to swap 2021 second-round picks with the Pelicans.[46] He made his debut for the Pelicans two days later, scoring 18 points in a 118–107 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.[47] On 10 February, he recorded 21 points and 16 rebounds in a 138–128 double-overtime win over the Brooklyn Nets.[48] On 6 April, he scored a season-high 31 points and tied a season best with 16 rebounds in a 122–103 win over the Phoenix Suns.[49] Three days later, he recorded 24 points and 16 rebounds in a 113–100 win over the Los Angeles Clippers, helping the Pelicans clinch a playoff spot.[50] In game 1 of the Pelicans' first-round playoff series against the Portland Trail Blazers, Mirotić recorded 16 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks in a 97–95 win.[51] In game 3, Mirotić scored a career playoff-best 30 points, as the Pelicans beat the Trail Blazers 119–102 to take a 3–0 lead in the series.[52]
In the Pelicans' season opener on 17 October 2018, Mirotić scored 30 points on 6 of 8 from 3-point range in a 131–112 win over the Houston Rockets.[53] Two days later, he scored a career-high 36 points in a 149–129 win over the Sacramento Kings.[54][55] On 5 November, he had 16 points and matched a career high with 16 rebounds in a 122–116 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.[56] On 9 January, he returned to action against the Cleveland Cavaliers after missing 12 games due to an ankle injury.[57]
Milwaukee Bucks (2019)
On 7 February 2019, Mirotić was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in a three-team trade involving Jason Smith, Stanley Johnson and Thon Maker.[58] He missed the first four games with the Bucks upon being acquired with a calf injury, making his debut on 21 February against the Boston Celtics.[59] He missed the final 11 regular-season games after suffering a fractured left thumb against the Los Angeles Lakers on 19 March.[60][61][62] He made his return in the Bucks' opening game of the playoffs.[63]
On 6 July 2019, Mirotić signed a three-year deal, with the option of an extension through to 2023, with FC Barcelona of the Liga ACB and the EuroLeague.[64] According to sources, Mirotić's contract was worth €26 million, making him the highest-paid basketball player in Europe.[65] On 27 June 2020, Mirotic was awarded the league's Most Valuable Player award. He became the fifth player in Liga Endesa history to have multiple MVP awards, joining Darryl Middleton, Arvydas Sabonis, Luis Scola and Felipe Reyes.[66] Mirotić finished the season averaging 19.5 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. He extended his contract until 2025 on 25 September 2020.[67]
2021–22 season
In the 2021–22 season, he won his first EuroLeague MVP award, becoming the first Barcelona player to win the award in 14 years.[68]
2022–23 season
On 22 July 2022, Mirotić suffered an Achilles injury that ruled him out for the beginning of the 2022–23 season.[69]
On 1 December 2022, Mirotić made his season debut against Alba Berlin, finishing the game with 19 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 assists in an 88–86 win.[70]
On 19 May 2023, Mirotić and FC Barcelona Bàsquet failed to win the EuroLeague despite reaching the third Final Four in a row. Barcelona lost in the semifinal against Real Madrid Baloncesto 66–78.[72]
Mirotić finished the game with 3 points (1/10 FG, 1/2 FT), 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 3 turnovers. He took the responsibility after the game. "I congratulate Real Madrid, they played a great game," Mirotic said. "I take a large part of the responsibility for us losing this game. I haven't been at the level expected of me, I haven't been able to help the team. I feel very bad. I say to our fans that I'm sorry, thank you for supporting us and for coming here."[73]
On 20 July 2023, FC Barcelona Bàsquet officially announced that the club is unilaterally terminating Mirotić's contract. Mirotić still had two years left in his contract, but he became a free agent.[74]
2023 free agency
On 28 June 2023, Olimpia Milano head coach Ettore Messina said that Milan can't compete with the likes of Anadolu Efes, Fenerbahçe, Panathinaikos, Barcelona, or Real Madrid in the race to sign Mirotić, essentially denying a previous report about a deal between the two sides.[75]
On 9 July 2023, reports in the Greek media emerged stating that Panathinaikos entered the race for Mirotić's signature, offering a two-year €8 million contract.[76]
However, on 23 July 2023, Panathinaikos owner Dimitrios Giannakopoulos denied the rumors about the interest in Mirotić. "I looked at my iPad, and there are 10,000 messages," Giannakopoulos said on Saturday via his Instagram. "Now, even our plane is being watched, it is said that we went to Serbia to make a deal with [Nikola] Mirotić. No, we were at The Weeknd concert."[77]
On 16 July 2023, the Serbian media reported that Mirotić landed in Belgrade to finalize an agreement with Partizan. Partizan head coach Željko Obradović reportedly had the biggest influence on Mirotić's decision to join the Serbian powerhouse.[78]
On 22 July 2023, two days after officially parting ways with Barcelona, Mirotić stated that he wouldn't join Partizan due to insults and threats he received after news of his continuation in Obradović's team was published.[79] Hours after the player's statement, Partizan responded by releasing a statement of their own, claiming that Mirotić's decision had nothing to do with the supposed threats. "The club publicly calls on Nikola Mirotić, out of his commitment to the truth, and he is a man who fights for the truth, to say who the people who threatened him are. The club's wish and plan was to build the team around the players who are currently under contract and Mirotić himself, but now that plan will have to be corrected. KK Partizan Mozzart Bet firmly believes that the reasons for not signing the contract by Nikola Mirotić have nothing to do with any threats but with some other things that the public will be able to see for themselves in the days ahead," Partizan wrote in the statement.[80]
On 5 October 2023, Partizan head coach Željko Obradović claimed Mirotić received pressure from unnamed politicians and church members after his decision to join the Serbian powerhouse.
"I will tell you exactly as he told me. He didn't mention any names, but he told me he received calls from politicians and the church. Nikola did not reveal any names, but he told me it was about people from politics and the church. I know that much. He can confirm that," Obradović said in an interview with news magazine Nedeljnik.[81]
However, on 2 November 2023, Mirotić denied the claims and rumors about being influenced by the Serbian Orthodox Church not to join Partizan.
"Wanting to debunk the slander that seeks to harm our Holy Church and its Patriarch, I have the need to state that I have not yet had the honor to meet His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije nor to communicate with him, directly or indirectly," Mirotić wrote in a post on Instagram.[82]
On 19 October 2023, Mirotić moved to the Top 10 EuroLeague All-Time scoring list. Mirotić scored 3,242nd career point in the EuroLeague game against Real Madrid, overtaking Kyle Hines and Paulius Jankunas.[84]
National team career
Mirotić was a member of the junior national team of Spain. He helped Spain's U20 national team win the bronze medal at the 2010FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship, where he was named to the All-Tournament Team. He also led Spain to the gold medal in 2011. Mirotić was the top scorer and MVP of the tournament, averaging 27 points (tournament record) and 10 rebounds per game.[85]
On January 19, 2023, Mirotić confirmed he's retiring from the Spanish national team. "I haven't played with them for many years, I've focused a lot on giving my all to the club I'm at. Then in summer, I have many personal things, family, my businesses. And I am at an age, especially after having the injury and everything, in which I don't see myself returning with the national team," Mirotić explained.[88]
Mirotić and his wife, Nina Vujačić, have a son named Aleksandar, who was born in May 2013. His wife is the daughter of his former coach and mentor, Jadran Vujačić, who also played professional basketball with Borac Čačak, KK Partizan and Budućnost Titograd.[89] Even though he represents the Spain national basketball team, he said that he is happy and proud to be Montenegrin.[90][91]
^"Thunder get 6th spot in West with win over Bucks". ESPN.com. 10 April 2019. Retrieved 11 April 2019. Mirotic suffered a fractured left thumb against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 19 and did not play in the final 11 regular-season games.
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