AS Monaco and Nikola Mirotic finally make it official: signing confirmed!
July 25, 2025
Lilian Bordron
Nikola Mirotic explains his choice to join AS Monaco: « I wanted a new challenge »
EuroLeague - Officially signed with AS Monaco since July 25, Nikola Mirotic spoke for the first time since announcing his signing on the club's website. The former Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, and Milan player shared measured thoughts on his decision to join the Roca Team.
Photo Credit : Sébastien Grasset
Nikola Mirotic (2.08m, 34 years old) officially joined AS Monaco on Friday, July 25. The former EuroLeague MVP spoke on the Roca Team’s official website. In a series of rather conventional responses, the Montenegrin-born naturalized Spaniard discusses his reasons for choosing Monaco, talks about meeting the club president, his dialogue with new coach Vassilis Spanoulis, and shares his perspective on EuroLeague’s evolution.
« Monaco is a club at the top of EuroLeague »
When asked about his reasons for signing with Monaco, Nikola Mirotic first emphasized the club’s ambition: « Monaco is a club that has been at the top of EuroLeague in recent years and has the potential to develop even further. I wanted a new challenge, I still have the capabilities, and that’s why I decided to sign here. »
The player who has played for Real Madrid, Chicago Bulls, FC Barcelona, and Milan also highlighted the role of club president Aleksej Fedorycsev in his decision: « I had the opportunity to meet the president several times. He’s a man with great vision and very dedicated to his basketball team. He’s ready to do a lot to see the Roca Team reach the heights of European basketball. »
Already in sync with Vassilis Spanoulis
The player who played his first EuroLeague season in 2010 with Real Madrid also discussed his first contact with Vassilis Spanoulis, Roca Team’s new coach: « Yes, I was able to talk with Coach Spanoulis about our vision of the game, what he could expect, and how he sees things. I’m very eager to start meeting new players and learn more about Vassilis Spanoulis’s coaching philosophy. »
🗣️ #RocaFans, Niko has a message for you:#RocaTeam #DagheMunegu pic.twitter.com/P4GLoKDF8j
— AS Monaco Basket 🇲🇨 (@ASMonaco_Basket) July 25, 2025
A perspective on EuroLeague and NBA
A true European basketball star, Mirotic believes that EuroLeague’s level is higher than ever: « Now after 15 years, I can say that the league is much more competitive and demanding. All teams can succeed. »
Finally, the player who also spent five seasons in the NBA, notably with Chicago, Milwaukee, and New Orleans, compared the two competitions: « There’s no doubt that the NBA is the best league in the world, but the truth is that it’s thanks to European players who play today and who played before them, that they are what they are today in the NBA. »
Gabriel Pantel-Jouve is the founder and editor-in-chief of BeBasket, which he has been running since 2010 (formerly known as Catch & Shoot). Having studied at the École Publique de Journalisme de Tours and two universities in North America, he has developed his expertise in French basketball, from the National League to amateur divisions, over the past 20 years. Alongside this, he is also involved in the development of clubs in the Montpellier area.
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