WHERE DOES HE FIT BEST?
Whether it’s power forward or small forward, Mirotic determined to force his way onto floor
It’s hard to put Nikola Mirotic in a box.
Is the second-year Bulls player a power forward who can shoot from the outside? Is he a big small forward? Is he a future All-Star?
‘‘Niko’s a basketball player,’’ coach Fred Hoiberg said, doing his best to try to end the debate about where the 6-10 Mirotic fits on the floor. ‘‘And very versatile.
‘‘I’ve been running him at the four [power forward] and three [small forward]. I think he’s more comfortable at the four right now because that’s where he was getting a lot of his reps early on. But we’ve been sticking around after [practices], getting together early and putting him in that three spot so that he can learn that, as well.’’
In other words, Hoiberg just wants Mirotic to think about being a basketball player. The rest hopefully will take care of itself. Mirotic is all for that. ‘‘Last year was a big adjustment,’’ he said. ‘‘Everything was new — new team, new city, new language, too. This year, expectations are bigger. I just want to work hard to be one of the important players on this team. I think we can do something special. We’re full of talent. We just need work. Me, too.’’
Work was something Mirotic had no problem putting in during the summer. He joined Bulls teammate Pau Gasol on the Spanish national team last month, and the two helped lead the country to the European championship.
Along the way, they had a surprise visitor in Hoiberg.
‘‘Had a great dinner in Spain,’’ Mirotic said of Hoiberg coming over to check on them. ‘‘He saw a couple of practices, too. We just met there; we didn’t talk about our basketball. . . . He didn’t say what he expected [from us], how our rules are gonna be. But we don’t need to be worried; we just need to work hard.’’
Not only has Mirotic been put- ting in extra time before and after practices, but he is averaging 14.7 points in the Bulls’ first three preseason games, even though he was held to eight in the Bulls’ 114-105 victory Saturday against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
He looks confident with what he wants to do and looks like a player who is ready to take the next step.
‘‘The biggest thing is that first year is such a steep learning curve,’’ Hoiberg said. ‘‘Going into your second year, you’re so much more prepared. You know what to expect.
‘‘Everything you have to learn going into that first season, it takes awhile to get everything down — the concepts, the different rules from what he’s been used to with the international game. He’s got all that down now. He’s got a lot of those growing pains out of the way. Now he can just focus on going out there and playing.’’
What will be interesting to watch in the next couple of weeks is whether Mirotic will be able to fill the vacancy at small forward left by the injury to Mike Dunleavy (back surgery).
‘‘I’m gonna be wherever they need me to be,’’ Mirotic said. ‘‘Depends what Coach wants from me. I’m here to help the team. Whether I play three or four, I know I have a position on the floor.’’
Spoken like a true basketball player.