Nikola Mirotic is a Montenegrin-Spanish professional basketball player and the team captain for FC Barcelona of the Spanish Liga ACB and the EuroLeague.
Mirotic started his professional career with the Real Madrid juniors and later made his NBA debut in 2014.
In his rookie season in the NBA, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. In the NBA, he played with the Chicago Bulls, New Orleans Pelicans, and Milwaukee Bucks.
He has received many recognition and awards in his professional career, including the EuroLeague MVP, Spanish League winner, and Spanish Cup winner.
Want to know more about Nikola Mirotic? If so, stick to the end of the article. Before that, let’s have a look at quick facts.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Nikola Mirotic |
| Birth Date | 11 February 1991 |
| Birth Place | Yugoslavia |
| Nick Name | Not Known |
| Religion | Christian |
| Nationality | Spain |
| Ethnicity | Serb |
| Education | Joker school in Podgorica |
| Horoscope | Aquarius |
| Father’s Name | Not Known |
| Mother’s Name | Not Known |
| Siblings | Not Known |
| Age | 33 Years Old |
| Height | 6’10″/2.08 m/208 cm |
| Weight | 113 kg/250 lb. |
| NBA Draft | 2011 / Round: 1 / Pick: 23rd overall |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Build | Athlete |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife | Nina Vujacic |
| Kid | Aleksander (born in May 2013) |
| Position | Power Forward |
| Profession | Basketball Player |
| Net Worth | $25 million |
| Salary | $5 million |
| Currently Plays for | FC Barcelona |
| League | Liga ACB, EuroLeague |
| Active Since | 2008 – present |
| Social Media | Facebook, Instagram |
| Merch | Basketball Autograph Card |
| Last Update | October 2024 |
Early Life & Family
Nikola Mirotic was born in Montenegro on February 11, 1991. He grew up playing football, but his family realized he should be playing another sport, considering his tall stature.
When he reached 13, his grandfather introduced him to basketball, and the professional athlete started his basketball journey.
Similarly, he received training from Coach Jadran Vujacic at the Joker school in Podgorica.
Having started to play the sport at 13, his promising skills landed him a deal with Real Madrid after a year in 2015.
Professional career
Real Madrid
Nikola played for the Real Madrid juniors from 2006 to 2008 before he was signed to the senior team in 2008.
His efforts and dedication to basketball made him a valuable member of the team, and he received the EuroLeague Rising Star award.
After showing continuous improvement in his gameplay, he signed a five-year extended contract with Real Madrid in April 2011.
With the team, he won the Spanish King’s Cup twice and Spanish Supercup twice.
The professional basketball player was also named to All-Euroleague Second Team in the 2012-13 EuroLeague season. He was also named to All-EuroLeague’s second team for a second consecutive season.
He averaged 10.8 points and 4.5 rebounds in 97 EuroLeague games for Real Madrid.
Mirotic signed with the Chicago Bulls on July 18, 2014, and parted ways with Real Madrid.
He was initially drafted by the Houston Rockets with the 23rd overall pick in 2011 but was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves and again to the Chicago Bulls on draft night.
Chicago Bulls
The professional basketball player joined the Chicago Bulls on a three-year/$16.6 million deal. To join the NBA franchise, he was required to pay $3 million to Real Madrid for his contract buyout.
With the Bulls, he scored his then-career-high 27 points in a 103-97 win against Memphis Grizzlies on December 19, 2014. For his impressive performances, he was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month in January 2015.
During the NBA All-Star Weekend, Mirotic scored 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field for World Team in the Rising Stars Challenge’s 121-112 victory over Team USA.
On March 1, 2015, he recorded 16 points in a loss against Los Angeles Clippers. Because of injuries to teammates, Mirotic was supposed to take on a more prominent role for his team.
In his rookie season, he averaged 10.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 82 games.
Mirotic finished second in Rookie of the Year Award voting with 335 votes behind Andrew Wiggins and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.
Making Records
At the beginning of the 2015-16 season, Nikola recorded team-high 19 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
After coming as a starter in 18 games, he averaged 10 points in 22 minutes in his 19th match against the Boston Celtics, coming off the bench.
During his next start over Brooklyn Nets on December 21, he started as a small forward as a replacement for Tony Snell.
Similarly, he recorded 17 points and 7 ASSISTS in a 108-81 win against New York Knicks. His progressive gameplays came to a halt on January 27, 2016, after he was diagnosed with an acute appendicitis.
Mirotic made his comeback after 16 missing games on the 5th of March, playing against the Houston Rockets.
During his game against the Knicks on March 23, he recorded a then career-high 35 points.
Placed on The Inactive List
During his 2016-17 seasons, Nikola scored 20 points in 90-85 wins against Indiana Pacers after falling out for a couple of games.
He was placed on an inactive list after declining to play by the coach’s decision in two straight games.
After missing three-game, he returned and notched 24 points in a 115-109 victory against Charlotte Hornets on the 13th of March 2017.
He recorded his season-high 28 points in a 117-95 win against the Detroit Pistons.
Furthermore, during his game against Milwaukee Bucks, he tied his season-high with another 28 points in a 109-94 win.
Mirotic had his third 28 points of the season in a 99-93 win against the Cavaliers. Similarly, he shot six three-pointers in back-to-back games against the Bucks and Cavaliers, making him the first Bulls player to do so.
Altercation And Injuries
Nikola re-signed with the Bulls on September 25, 2017. After a physical altercation during practice with one of his teammates, Bobby Portis, he was transported to the hospital.
Portis reportedly punched him in the face, resulting in a concussion and multiple fractures. He made his season debut on the 8th of December, averaging 6 points in 14 minutes in a 119-111 victory against the Hornets.
New Orleans Pelicans
Nikola was traded to New Orleans Pelicans along with a 2018 second-round pick on February 1, 2018.
In his debut for the Pelicans, he averaged 18 points in a 118-107 loss against Minnesota Timberwolves.
Mirotic set a season-high with 31 points and 16 rebounds in a 122-103 win against the Phoenix Suns.
The former Pelicans’ power forward posted 30 points in a 131-112 win over the Houston Rockets on October 2018, and two days later, he scored his career-high 36 points in a win over the Sacramento Kings.
After missing twelve games because of an ankle injury, Nikola returned to action against Cleveland Cavaliers on the 9th of January.
Milwaukee Bucks
In 2019, Nikola was traded in a three-team trade to Milwaukee Bucks, involving Jason Smith, Stanley Johnson, and Thon Maker.
Nikola missed his first four games with the Bucks due to a calf injury, and finally, he made his debut on February 21 against the Celtics.
He went on to miss the final 11 regular-season games after sustaining a fractured left thumb against the Lakers on March 19.
Mirotic returned to the Bucks’ duty in their opening game of the playoffs. Following the playoffs, he became an unrestricted free agent with the expiration of his contract.
Barcelona
Upon his departure from NBA, he moved to Spain. Nikola inked a three-year contract on July 6, 2019, with FC Barcelona of the Liga ACB and the EuroLeague, with the option of an extension until 2023.
The contract was reported to be worth €26 million ($28400320*), making him Europe’s highest-paid basketball player.
Playing with the Spanish team, he was awarded the Most Valuable Player Award on the 27th of June, 2020. He also became the fifth player in Liga Endesa history to have multiple MVP awards.
Mirotic capped off his rookie season, averaging 19.5 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. He extended his contract until 2025 on September 2020.
The professional athlete earned the EuroLeague MVP award in the 2021-22 season, becoming the first Barcelona player to win the award in 14 years.
National Team Career
At the 2010 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship, Mirotic helped Spain’s U20 national team earn a bronze medal and was named All-Tournament Team.
He also played a significant role with the Spanish national team at the 2011 FIBA Europe U20 Championship, where they won the gold. He finished the tournament as the top scorer and MVP, averaging 27 points and 10 rebounds per game.
Sergio Scariolo, the head coach, nominated Miroti as one of 17 candidates to try out for the senior Spain men’s national basketball team that would play at EuroBasket 2015 team in 2015.
Furthermore, in September 2015, he was named to Spain’s final 12-man roster, and he went on to win a gold medal at the competition.
He also competed in the 2016 Summer Olympics for Spain and won a bronze medal.
Award And Recognition
- 2× Spanish League MVP (2013, 2020)
- NBA All-Rookie First Team (2015)
- 2× Spanish League winner (2013, 2021)
- Spanish League Finals MVP (2021)
- 3× Spanish King’s Cup winner (2012, 2014, 2021)
- Spanish King’s Cup MVP (2014)
- 2× Spanish Supercup winner (2012, 2013)
- All-EuroLeague First Team (2021)
- 2× All-EuroLeague Second Team (2013, 2014)
- 4× All-ACB Team (2013, 2014, 2020, 2021)
- 2× Spanish League Domestic Player of the Year (2014, 2020)
- Liga ACB three-point field goal percentage leader (2021)
- Catalan League champion (2019)
- 2× EuroLeague Rising Star (2011, 2012)
- FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship MVP (2011)
Net Worth
Starting basketball at a young age and achieving such fame, Nikola has earned some fortune during his basketball career.
Although Mirotic’s exact net worth is still unknown, his estimated net worth is around $25 million as of 2024.
Most of his earnings come from his professional basketball career; from playing in NBA, he earned a total of $41,631,175, and now with Barcelona, he reportedly earns $5 million per annum.
Besides, he also attracts several endorsement deals and hence more earnings. One of the initial deals was with Gillette.
Personal Life
In terms of his personal life, Nikola has been married to Nina Mirotic since 2012. Nina is the daughter of former coach Jadran Vujacic.
Nina has kept a low profile when talking about and sharing their personal life, making it difficult to learn anything about her.
In May 2013, the couple welcomed their first child, a son named Aleksandar. They were blessed with their second child, another son, whose name and date of birth are unknown. Nikola has been happily living with his family and adores his sons.
Mirotic has been a proud Serbian Orthodox Christian from the beginning. In May 2017, he also received the Order of St. Sava.
He has also participated in a protest and prayer walk against the religious law that affects Serbian orthodoxy.
Even though there are no records of Nikola’s parents or childhood, he stated in one of his interviews that his father was rigorous and that the fear of being punished drove him to work hard on the basketball court.
In one of his interviews, Mirotic stated that his priority was his family while he was away from home, focusing on his career, which is why he decided to return to Europe in the summer of 2019.
Social Media Presence
Nikola is active on social media platforms and keeps his fans posted about his life updates.
Most of the posts are related to basketball and his religion. He is available on Instagram under the handle @nikolamirotic33 and Facebook with the name Nikola Mirotic.
Facebook: 223k followers
Instagram: 280k followers
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Nikola Mirotic return to NBA?
No, Nikola stated in one of his interviews that he has no plans to return to the NBA soon.
What is Nikola Mirotic wingspan?
Nikola Mirotic has a wingspan of 7 feet 1 inch (2.15 meters).
