For the first time since agreeing to a new two-year contract with the Chicago Bulls, power forward Nikola Mirotic spoke to reporters about staying in Chicago for at least one more season.
Nikola Mirotic and the Chicago Bulls agreed to terms on a two-year contract extension to keep Mirotic around for at least one more season this past Sunday.
On Tuesday, after the Bulls’ first official practice of the season, Mirotic spoke with members of the media for the first time since his new deal became official.
“I wasn’t worried,” Mirotic said, per Vincent Goodwill of NBC Sports Chicago. “I always knew I would be here, even if I took the qualifying offer.”
What was rather curious about his time in front of the camera was that Mirotic also said that he didn’t speak with any other teams during the summer.
Mirotic also noted that he’s been working hard in the Bulls facilities, putting on around 23 pounds this offseason in preparation for his biggest season in the NBA to date.
Mirotic said he finished last season at 237 pounds and is 260 pounds now.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) September 26, 2017
As for the Bulls heading into this season, Mirotic is much more optimistic than others on the outside looking into this new-look Bulls teams heading into the 2017-18 season.
Niko: "I don't think we're going to be that bad like people are thinking." #Bulls
— Mike McGraw (@McGrawDHSports) September 26, 2017
He also noted that with this team, they can really execute the philosophies that Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg has been trying to execute over the past two seasons in Chicago after finding success at Iowa State.
Also, shots fired? Kinda?
Mirotic on the style of play: "We want to play fast. No more holding the ball. We're not gonna be bad like people think."
— Vincent Goodwill (@VinceGoodwill) September 26, 2017
Mirotic also had some brief thoughts on rookie Lauri Markkanen.
It’ll be four Euros on the Bulls roster potentially next season if they draft Luka Doncic from Slovenia at No. 1 overall … wait, what? It’s only September. Let’s not look too far ahead, although this could be a thing that totally happens.
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Now that Mirotic is back in the fold, the Bulls can continue to move forward into this rebuilding phase. The first practice is in the books with another coming later on Tuesday at 5 p.m. CT at the Advocate Center.