CHICAGO _ Honest mistake or not, it's definitely not a good look to miss a team walkthrough the day after not playing by coach's decision for the first time in your three-year NBA career.
But that's what Nikola Mirotic did Friday.
Mirotic will be fined for the unexcused absence, according to coach Fred Hoiberg.
Mirotic, wearing street clothes, walked past reporters who were waiting for Hoiberg to finish the walkthrough and address them. When Hoiberg did, he didn't yet know Mirotic's reason for his absence but Mirotic later told team officials he simply forgot.
Hoiberg went out of his way to say Mirotic was the first person getting up shots and working out Friday morning and that he also met with the third-year forward.
"He was as good as he can be in a situation like that," Hoiberg said. "Obviously, any competitor isn't going to be happy when you get taken out of a lineup. But talking to him about keeping himself ready ... It was good to see him in there this morning getting in extra work and getting up extra shots, keeping himself prepared when his name was called, and that's what we talked about. Obviously he's going to get another chance this year. He's got to keep working, keep himself ready, and when opportunity comes, go out and play well."
Hoiberg said his rotation is on a game-by-game basis for now. But Bobby Portis is scheduled to play with Cristiano Felicio as the reserve big men against the Bucks.
