With only four games under his belt as the new starting power-forward for the Chicago Bulls, Nikola Mirotic is already the leading candidate for Most Improved Player by a mile. Mirotic could thank Tom Thibodeau for bringing him off the bench last season for barely 20 minutes per game. He could then follow up another thanks to Fred Hoiberg for giving him the exact opposite role at starting power-forward, where his production will skyrocket.
What Nikola Mirotic is bringing to the table isn’t unseen or unpredictable. Albeit, the Bulls have only played four regular season games, but Mirotic’s stats are almost identical to his PER 36 minutes stats from lat season. Averaging 18.8 points per game with close to seven rebounds per game, Mirotic has quickly become the Bulls focal point on offense. Which is something a lot bigger than most realize given the Bulls are all about the offensive end now.
After having a big summer playing for Spain’s national team, the 24 year-old stud is second in three-pointers behind Stephen Curry. The Chicago Bulls sold the concept of giving Nikola Mirotic a big role this season as their excuse for not making moves in free agency, so far it looks like they’re betting on the right player for success.
With a complete opposite role from last season, Mirotic’s production and stats will skyrocket as a starter, which leads him to be the leading candidate for Most Improved Player throughout the regular season.
Nikola Mirotic’s 2015-2016 stats: 18.8 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.3 SPG, 46.8% FG, 46.4% 3pt FG, 90.0% FT
Nikola Mirotic’s 2014-2015 stats: 10.2 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 0.7 SPG, 40.5% FG, 31.8% 3pt FG, 80.3% FT
