Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Portis in fight
Bobby Portis (above) of the Chicago Bulls, who played in high school at Little Rock Hall and collegiately at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, could face disciplinary action from the team after a fight with teammate Nikola Mirotic in practice Tuesday. Mirotic suffered multiple broken bones in his face and a concussion during the altercation.
The Chicago Bulls said forward Nikola Mirotic suffered multiple broken bones in his face as well as a concussion in a fight with teammate Bobby Portis (Little Rock Hall, Arkansas Razorbacks) during practice. The team said Mirotic will likely need surgery and is out indefinitely. They say they are “evaluating disciplinary action” after Tuesday’s incident. Mirotic averaged 10.8 points over his first three seasons with Chicago. A restricted free agent, he signed a two-year contract that could pay as much as $27 million in September. The club holds an option on the second season. A 2015 first-round pick, Portis has averaged 6.9 points and 5 rebounds in two seasons with the Bulls. Portis was the SEC player of the year in 2015, averaging 17.5 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, 1.2 assists and 1.1 steals per game as Arkansas advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, losing to North Carolina. The Bulls open at Toronto on Thursday. Chicago is rebuilding after trading Jimmy Butler and parting with Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo.