At this point in the 2017-18 NBA season, it is well-documented what happened between Nikola Mirotic and Bobby Portis. However, since Mirotic returned to the team's starting lineup, he is averaging 18.1 points and 7.3 rebounds as the Chicago Bulls have won 10 out of their last 12 games.
As winning usually cures all, that has not been the case for the Bulls teammates. In an interview with Nacho Duque of Marca, Mirotic reveals the relationship has remained the same and they only speak on the court because they have to:
“It hasn't changed. I don’t talk to him and he doesn’t talk to me. We only speak with each other on the court and only because we have to.”
While Mirotic believes it is not the right time to tell his side of the story, he discussed why it took time for him to understand and be positive:
“Not even in your worst nightmares you expect that to happen, much less with a teammate in practice. It’s not the time to go into detail and talk about it. It was a tough time because I had given up on the National Team, I had put in the work in the summer because I was going to be in the starting lineup and felt this was going to be my year. I knew because I felt ready… Not being able to start the season and lose your spot over something like that was very hard. It took time for me to understand and be positive, but I have proved nothing can break me.”
As two teammates fighting should never happen, Mirotic and Portis have remained professional on the court. After the Bulls started the season with a 3-20 record, their turnaround since Mirotic's return has been one of the most shocking developments in all of sports.
After trading Jimmy Butler and buying out Dwyane Wade, it was clear Chicago was embracing a full rebuild. With the thought process being landing the first overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, the Bulls currently have the ninth-worst record in the league.
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