Nikola Mirotic: "For what I've suffered, this season counts for two"

Nikola Mirotic, during a Euroleague match, against Baskonia on March 5.

PEDRO SALADO (GETTY) Quality Sport Images / Getty Images

Crucial games and decisions come at unprecedented speed on Nikola Mirotic's path. The 30-year-old Montenegrin player faces a definitive test for himself and Barcelona in the final phase of the Euroleague in Cologne. His July 2019 signing from the NBA triggered expectations that increased as the squad led by Saras Jasikevicius strengthened. The Podgorica player was the highest rated player in the regular season, beating Mike James, a CSKA guard who signed for the Brooklyn Nets in April. This Friday, with the match against Armani Milan (9.00 pm, DAZN and Movistar +), Barça's 33rd takes on the challenge in a competition that they could not win on the four occasions they played it with Real Madrid.

Question.

Two years ago, when he was already at an airport in Greece about to catch the plane for the United States and sign for Utah Jazz, he backed off.

Are you intrigued by how far you could have gone on a team that is now among the NBA favorites?

Answer.

You ask yourself sometime.

But I am one of those who do not look back.

I always look ahead.

And I am intrigued to see where I am going to go with Barça, where I am capable of going and where the team is capable of going.

But yes, I am going to follow the

playoffs

and to Utah, who is playing very well, and I am going to be happy for them.

But my last team was Milwaukee, so I'm going with them in these

playoffs

.

More information

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Q.

You have always made difficult and often misunderstood decisions like leaving Montenegro to join Real Madrid when I was 14 years old, going to the NBA in 2014 and returning in 2019 to sign for Barcelona.

A.

One always looks at the best way for oneself. I was in a very small country (Montenegro, 650,000 inhabitants) and I thought that coming to Spain was an opportunity. Then you want to step forward and you are criticized. I'm also talking about when I chose to play for the Spanish national team, and after when I left Madrid for the NBA. You think it's a train that you have to catch and you don't see what people are going to think. And the same when I came from the United States to Barcelona. I have never been carried away by what people think of me. I always thought about if it is the right thing to do, if it is really what I want and what is best for my career. I am used to being criticized. It is my life and I am happy with it.

Q.

I knew first-hand the rivalry between Barça and Real Madrid.

Has the wear and tear of the critics affected you for that change of shirt?

R.

I was very aware of what my signing for Barcelona meant, especially for the Madrid fans. But that never moved me one bit. I knew what I wanted, I spoke with my family and made the decision to move forward. Once you get here and you feel, I don't know if I can say hate, but the tremendous disgust of many people, you realize that the reaction is much stronger than you thought. But that didn't change anything. For me it was even more motivation to keep going, to be better. Above all I want to be happy and achieve my goals with the club. Life does not give you time to prepare, one has to be already prepared. Because I got here and the first thing I had to do was play that Super Cup game against Madrid and in Madrid. But then nothing.It is true that in the games against Madrid there is more tension, but it does not mean a mental drain or greater pressure.

Q.

How has your game changed since you arrived at Barcelona?

A.

My game in America was much more of

pick and pop

(block and roll), an open player, shooting 3s and little else.

I wanted to add something to my game, to make it more complete.

When I got here the coaches were also betting on it and I was good at it.

Every time I feel like a player more inside than outside.

It's something that I wanted to add to my game.

I knew the ability I had to play in the low post and I know that there I can use the advantage much more.

Q.

Did you need to feel like a leader?

A.

One hundred percent.

It is one of the reasons why I came from the United States.

I was not happy with my game there and I did not feel well taken advantage of.

He knew that the return meant he was going to have more leadership and it was what he was looking for.

I am happy with it and I see myself very capable of maintaining that situation.

💥 We are READY to 𝕣𝕠𝕔𝕜 some RIMS!

pic.twitter.com/gViK9iPdmT

- Barça Basket (@FCBbasket) May 27, 2021

P.

However, in the quarterfinals against Zenit performance was much lower than usual.

A.

Very few people expected such a level; Me neither, especially offensively. Despite having an incredible year, very constant, each game at a very high level, if such a moment comes you have to support yourself in the team. That's what I did, because the most important thing for me was to qualify. I didn't feel very comfortable, especially in attack. Admittedly, they did a great job on me, because they exhausted me a lot attacking me. I tried to help the team in other ways. I focused much more on defense, I tried not to force so much in attack, to play more for others. Now, I have no doubt that it will be very different. Once again the goal is to win, even if I don't score any points.

Q.

Last year the Euroleague was canceled, the pandemic arrived, the salary had to be lowered, you reached a pact to balance it by renewing it for two more years, until 2025, the covid passed, several parties were absent because of a problem staff and the club were without a directive for a few months.

How much is this final worth?

R.

It would be worth two to me.

I do not have any doubt.

After suffering so much in everything, in sports, personally, after the pandemic, canceling last year, one would enjoy it much more.

We are living a different moment and one has to adapt however it is, so for me personally it can count as a double Euroleague.

P.

Can an excess of anxiety weigh you down to win titles and mark an era?

R.

Without a doubt, I want to win and that can be transmitted a little to the anxiety.

But we must not go further, because this is a process.

You don't have to put extra pressure on.

You have to rely on your colleagues and all of us who are here go with great humility, with great enthusiasm.

If you want to win you have to go for it.

But with humility.

We already know how the

playoff

has suffered

and we will have to suffer if we want to win.

P.

They are in everyone's sights because of the great squad they have put together.

R.

We have a great team, I don't know if it's the best.

Without a doubt we are hopefuls, we are the best team in the regular season, that is facts.

With the arrival of Pau, we raised the level a lot in all aspects, of the game, of leadership in the dressing room, so it is a great plus for us.

We hope that putting these puzzles together can achieve the goal.

Q.

What will be the main thing?

R.

In the most difficult moments is when the team has been more united.

We never let that feeling slip away and in the hardest moments we have been able to react.

In many moments we have felt that power that depends on us.

If we are well and united there is no one to stop us.

Q.

Will you go to the Games?

What does it depend on?

R.

I did not go to the World Cup (2019, won by Spain) for many reasons, especially related to Barça, my family, my adaptation to Europe again. It depends on how I finish the season. I hope it ends well, that there is no injury. It has been a long and complicated season, personally for me and in many ways, but it is still early. Right now I am focused on finishing well in Europe and in the League. I had a talk a few days ago with Jorge [Garbajosa, president of the Spanish Federation]. He explained to me what the team's organizational plan was. I told him that I need a little more time to make a decision in agreement with Sergio [Scariolo, the coach], with him and with the Federation.

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