Bulls player who signed a $27 million contract was hospitalized and is out indefinitely after getting punched by teammate

Advertisement
Bulls player who signed a $27 million contract was hospitalized and is out indefinitely after getting punched by teammate

nikola mirotic

Kamil Krzaczynski/AP

Nikola Mirotic.

Chicago Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic is out indefinitely after a fight with Bulls teammate Bobby Portis on Tuesday that landed Mirotic in the hospital.

Advertisement

According to The Vertical's Shams Charania, Mirotic and Portis got into a shoving altercation during practice before Portis threw a punch, connecting with Mirotic's face.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Mirotic stayed on the ground for several minutes following the punch before getting up.

The Bulls announced afterward that Mirotic, who signed a two-year, $27 million contract over the offseason, suffered a concussion and facial fractures. He will likely need surgery, according to the team. K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune reported that Mirotic may miss a few weeks over the incident.

It's unclear what caused the infraction, but Vincent Goodwill of NBC Sports Chicago reported that it was "three years in the making," and that Mirotic instigated it.

Advertisement

Wojnarowski reported that Bulls GM Gar Foreman was at practice and witnessed the incident. The Bulls are reportedly weighing disciplinary actions for Portis.