Nikola Mirotic claims his first EuroLeague MVP award / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Rodolfo Molina - Getty Images Credit Rodolfo Molina - Getty Images

Barcelona star forward Nikola Mirotic was officially named EuroLeague MVP for the 2021-2022 season in an official ceremony in Belgrade.

Nikola Mirotic

MIN:24.18PTS:16.61 (66.4%)REB:5.06As:1.22ST:0.78BL:0.31TO:1.81GM:36ProfileEuroLeague2021/2022

The Montenegrin forward was the main factor behind Barcelona's success in the regular season, which ended with the Catalan side at the very top of the standings.

Mirotic averaged 16.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game during the EuroLeague regular season while also shooting an impressive 45% from 3-point. Now in his third season with Barcelona, this is the first MVP award for Mirotic.

He was also named in the first All-EuroLeague team of this season.

"It's been a big pleasure for me to receive this award from our greatest coach Zeljko Obradovic," Mirotic said after receiving the award. "I would like to thank my team FC Barcelona, an entire organization, coaching staff, and all the players."

In the end, this is a team job. A couple of weeks ago my dear friend Nick Calathes said: 'In case you win MVP, please remember me in your speech.' I said to him I will. I want to thank Nick because he makes my life way easier on the court.

He's been an amazing teammate and friend. In the end, I want to say a couple of words about who's here today. My personal coach Vujacic, who was my first coach since I started basketball. He really pushed me very hard to get to this point, working hard all summers together. He was the person who believed in me. This trophy also goes to him," Mirotic added.

In 2019, the forward decided to return to European basketball despite receiving very lucrative offers to remain in the NBA.

In the playoff series against Bayern Munich, Mirotic averaged 16.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.0 assist, while shooting 35% from 3-point.

Mirotic will face his former team Real Madrid in the EuroLeague semifinal, which will be one of the most anticipated games in recent history.

Barcelona and Mirotic had already reached the Final Four last season, but they lost in the final against Anadolu Efes.

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