"I got 8 games for simply defending myself" --when Bobby Portis broke teammate Nikola Mirotic's face

Altercations between teammates are nothing new but Bobby Portis and Nikola Mirotic took it to another level back in 2017.

© Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

It was supposed to be just another day on the court for the Chicago Bulls. It was October 2017, and the team was wrapping up another practice in preparation for the 2017-2018 NBA season when things took an ugly turn. 

Bobby Portis, then a power forward for the Bulls, and Nikola Mirotic, got into a heated argument that quickly escalated into a fight. The altercation ended with Portis punching Mirotic in the face, causing him to fall to the ground and sustain several injuries, including a concussion and two fractures to his upper jaw.

A positional battle turned ugly

Mirotic was rushed to the hospital and missed the first 23 games of the season while recovering from his injuries. Portis, on the other hand, was suspended for eight games. The fight caused a major rift in the locker room and put a damper on what was supposed to be a promising season for that young Bulls team.

Remembering that incident recently, Portis — who is now a key cog of the Milwaukee Bucks — said he was merely defending himself against Mirotic.

I got 8 games for simply defending myself Bobby. I think it’s a lot different. IMO https://t.co/ykEDMbj5Vo pic.twitter.com/47OU0Y6lLC

— Bobby BP Portis (@BPortistime) October 7, 2022

Portis and Mirotic reportedly had history, which eventually came to a hilt that day in October. The two had been battling to be named starter at the power forward position. At some point, things took a wrong turn.

This has been three years in the making, a source said. Mirotic has broken bones in his face, apparently instigated, and Portis punched him

— Vincent Goodwill (@VinceGoodwill) October 17, 2017

Portis apologized to Mirotic, in private and public, which the latter accepted. However, the relationship between the two never fully healed, as Mirotic was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans less than a year after the fight.

"I'm sorry for what happened. We tried to be professional, make things work on the court. We did that," Portis said. "Off the court, we never talked. We played cards one time. It was kind of awkward. So we didn't play anymore."

Similar incident

It's been nearly six years since the incident occurred, and Portis and Mirotic have moved on from the Chicago Bulls. Mirotic now plays for FC Barcelona and won MVP honors in the EuroLeague in the 2021-2022 season. On the other hand, Portis plays for the Bucks where he won an NBA title in 2021. But the memory of that fateful day suddenly resurfaced in the wake of the incident involving Golden State teammates Draymond Green and Jordan Poole.

The two were involved in a heated exchange during practice, resulting in Green punching Poole. It's unclear what exactly led to the altercation between Green and Poole, but it remains to be seen how Green and Poole will resolve their differences and if they'll be able to move past this incident.

Despite their reconciliation, Mirotic and Portis couldn't.