NIKOLA Mirotic entertained NBA fans for years before deciding to return to Europe and never looking back.

The 32-year-old former NBA big man continued his basketball career in Europe and revealed the moment that impacted his decision to return.

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Nikola Mirotic spent five years in the NBACredit: Getty

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Nikola Mirotic shared why he walked away from the NBA for EuropeCredit: Getty
Mirotic spent five seasons in the NBA, jumping from city to city and playing for three teams.

He expressed displeasure with his role in the NBA and detailed in an interview with Eurohoops when he decided to return to Europe while sitting at the airport.

"I felt that time was passing, and I had not played the best basketball of my life, although it was very good," Mirotic said.

"As soon as I didn't feel that joy and happiness to improve. I said it was time to go back and do something bigger in Europe."

"For me, the most important thing has always been enjoying the game, being happy, an important piece, trying to win the titles and, if I'm not in that environment, I don't care about all the money. I'm going away."

Mirotic was a standout athlete growing up. He joined Real Madrid at 14 in 2005 and spent several seasons there before entering his name into the NBA draft.

The Houston Rockets selected him with the 23rd overall pick in the 2011 draft.

That draft was loaded and featured superstars Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, Kawhi Leonard, and several other NBA All-Stars.

However, Mirotic didn't come to the NBA until 2015 after electing to stay in Spain for a few more seasons — by this time he had been traded to the Chicago Bulls.

He would go on to make the All-NBA rookie in his first season and spent the three with the Bulls, but a nasty fight in practice with a teammate ended his tenure with the team.

In 2017, Mirotic and teammate Bobby Portis got into an altercation, resulting in multiple facial fractures for Mirotic.

He would go on to play for the New Orleans Pelicans and Milwaukee Bucks before heading back home to play.

Mirotic made over $41million during his time in the NBA and continues to play in Europe.

He's expected to sign with Partizan Mozzart Bet of the EuroLeague, where he averaged 15.9 points a game last season.

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He was drafted by the Houston Rockets in the 2011 NBA draftCredit: Getty

Thomas Markle has been estranged from his youngest daughter Meghan Markle since shortly after her wedding to Prince Harry in 2018.

Thomas Markle has never met neither Prince Archie or Princess Lilibet. (Image: Getty/7News)

Thomas Markle is likely "very sad" to be missing out on yet another special family occasion because of his strained relationship with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, a royal expert claimed.

The former television lighting director has been effectively estranged from his youngest daughter since after her wedding to Harry in 2018.

He was due to fly to the UK to walk her down the aisle, but news of an agreement with the paparazzi paired with a heart attack days before the ceremony prevented him from attending.

Markle is not believed to have seen the Duchess of Sussex since – and he has repeatedly complained about never meeting his grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

With Lilibet's birthday looming, royal expert Phil Dampier spoke of the distress Mr Markle shares with King Charles as he misses out on yet another special occasion.

Princess Lilibet Diana will be turning three on June 4. (Image: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex/Misan Harriman)

Speaking to The Sun's Royal Exclusive show, Mr Dampier said: "It is amazing that she's already three but there is this underlying sadness of course because of the rift that the King is not seeing his grandchildren.

“I think he's only met Lilibet possibly once and Archie only a couple of times and they are seventh and eighth in line to the throne, growing up in California on the West Coast of America with American accents and they just don't see them.”

During her bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, the Duchess claimed her father had lied to her about speaking to the British press in what she dubbed a "betrayal" she couldn't "reconcile."

Mr Dampier added: "So that is the underlying sadness and whether they're going to one day heal this rift, we don't know, but at the moment I don't think there's much prospect.”

The royal expert also argued Harry and Meghan face the prospect of intense questioning from Lilibet and Archie when they are older on the lack of contact with both families.

He said: "When they get a bit older, are they going to start asking questions ‘How have we got to this situation’, ‘How is it I don't see my grandparents’, ‘How is it I don't have anything to do with the Royal Family?’

“When they get old, that's probably when the problem is going to start and it's going to be difficult for them.”

Lilibet, who will be turning three on June 4, is believed to have met the King in person only once when her parents brought her and Archie to the UK to celebrate the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee in 2022.

While Archie was born in the UK and met his grandfather on multiple occasions, he was barely six months old when he moved to North America with his parents.