Pippen Ain't Easy
Fansided

Nikola Mirotic had a crazy career with the Chicago Bulls

By Luke Askew

CHICAGO, IL - JULY 18: Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau and general manager Gar Forman introduce newly-signed free agent Nikola Mirotic, accompanied by guest translator Igor Ormazabal, during a press conference at the United Center on July 18, 2014 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2014 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - JULY 18: Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau and general manager Gar Forman introduce newly-signed free agent Nikola Mirotic, accompanied by guest translator Igor Ormazabal, during a press conference at the United Center on July 18, 2014 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2014 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

With the Chicago Bulls most recent trade sending Nikola Mirotic to the New Orleans Pelicans in a messy, complicated deal. It’s only fitting to best reflect on his time as a Bull by writing him a goodbye letter.

Dear Nikola Mirotic,

I want to start off by saying how much I appreciate your time as a member of the Chicago Bulls.

You started your career with the Chicago Bulls coming off the bench, and you finished your Bulls career coming off the bench, but that doesn’t mean your contributions didn’t matter. I know, there were many times throughout your career with the Bulls where you felt you should’ve been the starter. Sometimes I even agreed with you. After all, we always needed more floor spacing.

Despite not being named a starter, you didn’t let that stop you from having an impact on the game. In roughly 3.5 years as a member of the Chicago Bulls you made your way onto the Bulls top 5 all-time three-pointers made list. That’s impressive given the lack of playing time over that 3.5 years. I’ll let you re-live the moment that happened, I’m sure that was special for you. You deserved it.

After all, the guys ahead of you on that list, all had much longer careers with the Bulls and had much more playing time. Everyone ahead of you on that list, averaged 30+ minutes per game while you only averaged 23 minutes per game. The Bulls are a storied franchise with an incredible legacy and you’ve left your mark despite the circumstances you were thrown in too.

Not to mention you handled getting your face broken by a teammate’s punch fairly well, something many people would not have done. Your frustration was understandable but thank you for being professional throughout that whole mess of a situation. You and Bobby Portis actually played pretty well together in the last couple weeks and that speaks to both of your guys’ maturity.

Thank you for having one of the best nicknames in Chicago Bulls history

Yelling Threekola in an extremely annoying voice at my T.V. whenever you casted a three from the parking lot was always fun to do. Sure, sometimes they didn’t go in, but thank you for taking the kind of shots that provided me (and Bulls fans everywhere) with that opportunity.

I want to wish you the best of luck on your new adventure

As you are aware, you’re joining a team that’s in the playoff hunt that could really use some more front-court depth after dealing with the season-ending injury of All-Star DeMarcus Cousins. They also need more floor spacing. I’m confident that you will be able to provide them with both. Good luck Niko, Bulls Nation will be cheering for your success.

We’ll miss you, Threekola.

Home/Bulls News