The past three years couldn't zoom by soon enough for Nikola Mirotic.
The last time the Bulls had a European player with his size and skill set, the team was able to pull off its second three-peat. Of course, this isn't to suggest that Niko, as he's called by his teammates and coaches, will be anything like Toni Kukoc, but he certainly adds a dimension to the team fans haven't seen in some time.
Mirotic, a native of Montenegro, has been talked about the past three years, but nobody knew a whole lot about him. A cursory search of YouTube for fans interested in the 6-foot-10 forward showed his ability to shoot the ball, something most European players are known for. But the 23-year-old also has won championships in the Spanish League and was named MVP last year.
To do that, you have to be a lot more than just a shooter, and so far Bulls fans are discovering the player they've been waiting to see for so long appears to be worth it.
"I've been very impressed," veteran Bulls writer Sam Smith said. "We didn't realize that he has quite the feel for the game that he does. We thought he was just sort of just a spot-up shooter, but that's what he's been the least. He's pump-faking a lot, taking the ball to the basket, so he has an element to his game that we weren't sure about."
"I love that dude, man. He's tough," Jimmy Butler said of his new teammate.
Being tough isn't a reputation a lot of European players have when they get to the NBA. Fans may have missed it, but against Milwaukee last week, Mirotic put his toughness on display.
Between possessions late in the third quarter, Bucks forward Ersan Ilyasova knocked the ball out of Mirotic's hands while he was discussing a foul call with the referee. This is common in the NBA, but Mirotic took exception and jawed with Ilyasova all the way back up the court.
That's not a temperament you typically see from a rookie, let alone one who is thousands of miles from home and still trying to figure out his surroundings. But he's been playing professionally since he was a teenager-this isn't Mirotic's first rodeo.
"International ball is different, but the fact that Niko has been a pro and he's played in a lot of games, that's all a plus," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. "He works on his conditioning, he stays late, he studies and he practices hard. I think all of those are great attributes."
Pau Gasol was a star in the Spanish league when Mirotic was "still in diapers," the forward said. But the two-time NBA champion also has been impressed with Mirotic.
"I think he's been doing really well," Gasol said. "He's worked really hard. He came to Chicago a month early to get adjusted with his wife and newborn. So I think he made that commitment and put that time in so everything would be easier once the season started. Now you can see that he's a guy who's ready to play and wants do well and succeed."
Playing for a coach in Tom Thibodeau who has a reputation for not being fond of rookies, Mirotic has already cracked the rotation and is averaging close to 16 minutes per game.
"Coach [Thibodeau], he trusts me," Mirotic told RedEye. "He puts me on the floor, he wants me to shoot the ball and I feel good."
His stats (3.5 points, 3.1 rebounds per game) are not overwhelming, but they don't tell the story of his value on the court. In addition to his shooting, the ability he has to put the ball on the floor and make passes off the dribble for someone his size is remarkable. And the good news is it's only November and Mirotic figures to only get better.
Mirotic said his adjustment to the NBA hasn't been easy. But he's ready to do whatever it takes to help the Bulls win.
"It's been difficult. It's a big transition for me. Everything is different," he said. "But every day I'm learning something new. Of course, the basketball here is different than in Europe, but I'm working hard and I think I'm ready for this."
After three years of waiting, Mirotic finally has a chance to play for the team he's been watching closely ever since Minnesota traded his draft rights to Chicago. And he's especially excited to share the floor with guys like Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Gasol.
"It's a great feeling to be playing with these guys," Mirotic said. "When they drafted me three years ago, I started looking at Chicago very closely. It was my dream to one day play with Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah. Now I'm practicing and playing with them every day and it's a great feeling. They're superstars. The defense is always focused on Derrick or Taj or Pau, so it gives you more space and that's always a good thing."
Bryan Crawford is a RedEye special contributor.
HOW DO YOU SAY THAT?
Nikola Mirotic's name is a tricky one to pronounce. Now you can practice at home:
Not quite:"Mer-ah-tick"
Closer:"Mih-row-touch"
Ideal:"Mee-row-titch"