Chicago Bulls power forwards Nikola Mirotic and Bobby Portis got into a physical altercation during a practice earlier this season. Mirotic walked away from the fight with a few facial fractures while Portis was handed an eight-game suspension. The speculation ran rampant about the next team either Portis or Mirotic would join this season. It was reported that Mirotic would be willing to waive his trade clause and go to a new team because he did not want to be in the same locker room as Portis.
Yet here we are, just a few weeks later and Nikola Mirotic has finally accepted the apology laid out by Portis. The sharpshooting big man says he’s ready to move forward with the Bulls.
Following comes from KC Johnson of the Chicago Tribune.
speaking publicly for the first time since Bobby Portis broke two of his facial bones and concussed him with an Oct. 17 practice punch, Nikola Mirotic said he accepts Portis’ apology and wants to focus on remaining professional moving forward.
But in a nod to how precarious the situation remains, Mirotic said this when asked if Portis knows he has accepted the apology or if Mirotic just did so in answer to a reporter’s question:
“I guess he will know now,” Mirotic said Wednesday at the Advocate Center.
“I’ve been playing this game nine years professionally. I was always a good teammate, always professional to everybody, and I’m going to continue to do that,” Mirotic said. “If I’m here, it’s because I want to support the team. He’s a part of the team. I’m going to support him too. Obviously, I’m going to give him hands like he’s going to give me hands too.”
“Bobby and me and all the team is doing what we’re supposed to do, being professional,” Mirotic said. “I think so far we’re doing good. We’re in a good way.’’
