Bobby Portis recalls punching Nikola Mirotic: 'That was Bulls culture' / News - Basketnews.com

Bobby Portis remembered his punch to Nikola Mirotic's face in Chicago, admitting that was not their first time doing that: "Everybody did that on the Bulls." Portis also revealed that the practice fight was a life-learning lesson for him.

Credit: AP, USA Today Sports - Scanpix Credit AP, USA Today Sports - Scanpix

Almost six years after the infamous beef between Bobby Portis and Nikola Mirotic during Chicago Bulls' practice, one of the participants remembered the entire background.

Free throws this season

79%13,6Points made:13,6Accuracy:78,9%Place in standings:11Record max:23Record min:5Most made FTs:Nikola MiroticTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

In 2017, Portis, the current Milwaukee Bucks forward, got into a fight with European star Mirotic and punched him in the face.

Mirotic was diagnosed with maxillary fractures and a concussion, while Portis received an eight-game suspension.

"And that was not our first time doing that. Everybody did that on the Bulls. That was the culture. Everybody got into a little scuffle," Portis recalled the Bulls environment in the recent The Old Man and The Three podcast with JJ Redick and Tommy Alter.

"It was one of the situations where me and him got into a back and forth on the court," Portis continued about the fight. "I score, he scores, I score, he scores. And he was like, 'me me me.' I didn't like that and he ran up on me, pushed me, this and that.

"It was one of those things that was a life-learning lesson for me. Made me better as a person, and better as a basketball player as well. When I came back from the suspension, I really had to show people what my worth was and that I can really play. It was a blessing in disguise for real. During the time, it definitely tarnished my name, tarnished my reputation, and tarnished my image," he admitted.

Bobby Portis got his name back with the Milwaukee Bucks, where he arrived in 2020. As the 28-year-old confessed, he called Giannis Antetokounmpo and explained to the Greek Freak that he could be the missing part of the Bucks' championship aspirations.

An unorthodox phone call worked out and brought Portis to Milwaukee. He then became one of the unsung heroes during the Bucks' NBA championship run in 2021.

"I am forever grateful for Milwaukee. Being able to come here, being able to clean my name and image, and show guys that I am more than just what the media made me out of me," Portis appreciated Milwaukee's decision to get him to Wisconsin.

Portis honestly reflects on what happened in Chicago:

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