Nikola Mirotic Proving To Be Worth the Wait and Hype For Chicago Bulls
By Kristen Fazio
@Kristen_Fazio
Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
The Chicago Bulls‘ Nikola Mirotic dominated overseas in the Euroleague, but no one was really quite sure what to expect from the 23-year-old when he he joined the team after a three-year wait.
Mirotic was a much-hyped superstar and even dubbed the next Dirk Nowitzki, but at times it started to feel like he may never wear a Bulls uniform. But the patience has finally payed off and he appears to be worth the wait.
Mirotic has come on the past two games when he was given significant playing time due to Taj Gibson and Joakim Noah missing time. Mirotic is averaging 17.5 minutes on the season but played 28 minutes against Minnesota, scoring 12 points and knocking down two three-point shots, and he played 23 minutes against Orlando where he scored eight points, again connecting on two three-pointers.
On the season, Mirotic is averaging 6.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists while shooting 46 percent form the field and 46 percent from behind the arc. He has shown a willingness to pass the ball and has been selective with his shots. As the season wears on, expect him to take more shots once he settles in with his new team. Mirotic has also rebounded the ball well in the three games where he has seen over 10 minutes of playing time.
What has been most impressive is his ability to put the ball on the floor, get to the basket and draw a foul, oftentimes starting his drive from behind the three-point line. His shooting ability allows the Bulls to space the floor well — something fans appreciate is his high-effort and high-motor reminiscent of Andres Nocioni.
Defensively, he seems comfortable but still has some work to do. He is getting his hands in the passing lanes and grabbing rebounds but must cut down on the unnecessary fouls. Minutes will be hard to come by once the Bulls are fully healthy, but with his impressive play, Mirotic has proven he is worthy of playing time.
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