Nikola Mirotić (Serbian Cyrillic: Никола Миротић; born 11 February 1991) is a Montenegrin-Spanish professional basketball player for Olimpia Milano of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA) and the EuroLeague. The power forward is a four-time All-EuroLeague Team member, and previously played for Real Madrid of the Liga ACB. Mirotić was drafted with the 23rd pick in the 2011 NBA draft, and played in the NBA from 2014 for the Chicago Bulls, New Orleans Pelicans and Milwaukee Bucks, before returning to Spain in the 2019 offseason.
Mirotić was a member of the junior national team of Spain. He helped Spain's U20 national team win the bronze medal at the 2010 FIBA 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.
In June 2015, Mirotić was named by head coach Sergio Scariolo as one of 17 candidates to try out for the senior Spain men's national basketball team that would play at the EuroBasket 2015. Mirotić made Spain's final 12-man roster, and he went on to win a gold medal at the tournament, in September 2015. He also played with Spain at the 2016 Summer Olympics, where he won a bronze medal.
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.
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. Even though he represents the Spain national basketball team, he said that he is happy and proud to be Montenegrin.
Mirotić is an ethnic Serb and a Serbian Orthodox Christian. He received the Order of St. Sava in May 2017. Mirotić has participated in prayer walks and protests in Podgorica against the controversial religious law concerning the Serbian Orthodox Church.
EuroLeague 3000 Points 2023-03-10 | ACB Player Of The Month 2021-09-28 |
2008-2009 |
2009-2010 |
2010-2014 |
2014-2018 |
2018-2019 |
2019 |
2019-2023 |
2023 |