On July 25, the Roca Team officially announced the arrival of Nikola Mirotic in the position of forward. Here’s why the 34-year-old player is the ideal recruit for this Monaco transfer window.
This is the third summer signing for the Roca Team. After Kevarrius Hayes a few weeks ago and Yoan Makoundou a few days ago, Monaco officially announced Nikola Mirotic on July 25. A renowned player and a proven attacker with an impressive track record, the Spaniard has all the assets to enhance the gameplay of the Monaco team. Focus on the 34-year-old forward who could be the perfect man for the Roca Team.
A world and European renowned player
An experienced player might be what the Roca Team was looking for in this summer transfer window. With Nikola Mirotic, 34, they won’t be disappointed. Especially since the Montenegrin naturalized Spanish player has played for many clubs during his career. First, in the NBA, the pinnacle of global basketball. Six seasons between Chicago, New Orleans, and Milwaukee. And four playoffs appearances.
In Europe, Nikola Mirotic is also a significant player. He had a flourishing career in Barcelona from 2019 to 2023. He was notably named the best player of the Euroleague during the 2021-2022 season. An impressive record also accompanies this Barcelona stint: three Spanish league titles and four Copa del Rey wins. The forward was also a European champion with Spain in 2015 and bronze medalist at the Rio Olympics in 2016.
Nikola Mirotic is a reference at his position, and despite his advanced age, he could prove to be of invaluable importance to the squad, particularly in crucial matches.
Strengthening the forward position
For Vassilis Spanoulis’s men, Nikola Mirotic’s arrival also represents a strengthening of the forward position. While Jaron Blossomgame and Alpha Diallo have been frequently used this year, it has been less so for other team members.
Petr Cornelie and Terry Tarpey have not had the expected playing time, especially at the end of the year. With significant Euroleague matches and Betclic Elite playoffs, they didn’t spend much time on the court. A complex situation that also raised questions about the level of their performances. With Nikola Mirotic’s arrival, these two might find themselves even more on the bench. But one thing is certain, this reinforcement of the forward position will only help the Roca Team in its rotations during important matches of the season.
A player with good performance
Beyond his athletic qualities and his two-meter height, Nikola Mirotic also scores a lot of points. And knowing that Monaco’s attack was sometimes lacking, particularly in the Betclic Elite playoffs, this is significant.
In the NBA, his statistics were 12.3 points per game and 5.9 rebounds. In Barcelona, a good part of his Euroleague seasons averaged over 15 points. Even last season in Milan, Nikola Mirotic averaged 17.7 points and 6.4 rebounds in the Euroleague. Enough to mitigate Monaco’s offensive shortcomings.
Nikola Mirotic’s words
“I wanted a new challenge, I still have the capacity for it. What Monaco has achieved in a short time is simply incredible, and I truly believe and hope that the future will be bright. From their early moments in the Euroleague a few years ago, the team has shown that it is capable of great performances by qualifying each time for the playoffs and even twice for the Final Four”, said Nikola Mirotic.
“I was able to talk with coach Spanoulis about our vision of the game, what he might expect, and how he sees things. I am very eager to start meeting new players and learning even more about Vassilis Spanoulis’s philosophy as a coach”, concluded the Spanish-Montenegrin forward.
