Nikola Mirotic picks Europe over NBA
- Sports
- Reuters
- Published Date: 10:30 | 29 June 2019
- Modified Date: 10:30 | 29 June 2019
Nikola Mirotic reportedly has decided to play in Europe next season rather than stay in the NBA.
The 28-year-old Mirotic will play for Barcelona in the EuroLeague, according to a report from Shams Charania of The Athletic. Mirotic is from Montenegro and played 97 games in the EuroLeague with Real Madrid before making his NBA debut in 2014.
The decision came as a surprise because the 6-foot-10 forward could have signed a deal for a projected $40 million or more as an NBA free agent. He averaged 15.2 points and 7.4 rebounds in 46 games (25 starts) in 2018-19 with the Milwaukee Bucks and New Orleans Pelicans.
In 319 career NBA games, Mirotic averaged 12.3 points and 5.9 rebounds. He spent his first three-plus seasons with the Chicago Bulls before heading to the Pelicans in the 2017-18 season and then to the Bucks at the NBA trade deadline in February.
He earned $12.5 million last season in the final year of his contract.