Nikola Mirotić

Nikola Mirotić (Serbian Cyrillic: Никола Миротић; born February 11, 1991) is a Montenegrin-Spanish professional basketball player for the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) tall power forward previously played for Real Madrid of the Liga ACB.

Professional career

Early career

Growing up in Europe, 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 the sport of basketball. Mirotić spent his childhood in Montenegro and started playing basketball with the Joker School in Podgorica. At the age of 14, he signed a junior contract with Real Madrid in the summer of 2005.

Real Madrid (2008–2014)

After playing for the Real Madrid juniors from 2006 to 2008, Mirotić signed with the Real Madrid senior team of the Liga ACB in 2008. During the 2010–11 Euroleague season, he emerged as one of his team's most valuable players to win the Euroleague Rising Star award. In April 2011, he signed a five-year contract extension with Real Madrid. With Real Madrid, he won the Spanish King's Cup and the Spanish Supercup in 2012.