David Mirković Shines in Debut, Drawing Comparisons to Jokic

David Mirković made an impressive debut for the University of Illinois, leading his team to a decisive victory against Illinois State with a score of 92-65. In this exhibition match, the **19-year-old** forward from Montenegro recorded **19 points**, **14 rebounds**, and **6 assists**, setting a strong foundation for his career in the NCAA, which begins this season. His performance quickly caught the attention of American sports media, with **Sports Illustrated** proclaiming, “Does Illinois have a new star?” and suggesting he possesses “something of Jokic in him.”

The comparison to **Nikola Jokic**, a three-time NBA MVP, came from Ryan Pedon, head coach at Illinois State and former assistant coach at Illinois. After the game, Pedon remarked, “Before he came here, we could only see highlights and videos of him, so you are never sure about the level of competition.” He elaborated on Mirković’s skill set, noting that the young player is agile, capable of good ball handling, passing, and shooting, and has “huge physical potential.” Standing at **193 cm** and weighing **113 kg**, Mirković is a formidable presence on the court.

Pedon expressed admiration not only for Mirković’s statistics but also for the manner in which he achieved them. The head coach of Illinois, **Brad Underwood**, echoed this sentiment, stating, “I was truly impressed by David Mirković at first glance. He brings a unique set of offensive skills to the game.” Underwood highlighted Mirković’s previous experience as a point guard, stating, “He is not just a player who blocks shots; he’s a guy who has been a playmaker for years.”

In reflecting on his own performance, Mirković said, “All the coaches have always pushed me to push the ball forward when I grab a rebound. That’s what they want me to do here as well. Since I used to play point guard, I feel comfortable doing that.” His transition from a playmaking role to a forward position has made headlines, raising expectations for his future.

Underwood envisions a day when Mirković will achieve a triple-double wearing an Illinois jersey, but he also cautioned that there will be challenges ahead. “There will always be adjustments. The next step for these guys is to analyze game footage and see how other teams will attack us,” he noted. “David has a pretty full repertoire. He can pass, dribble, and shoot. We will see how he adapts in the next game. All of this is a learning experience.”

Mirković will join a group of six Montenegrin basketball players competing in the NCAA this season. Alongside him are **Luka Bogavac** (North Carolina), **Andrija Grbović** (Arizona), **Vladimir Sudar** (Pepperdine), **Marko Radunović** (Boston), and **Fedor Žugić** (Creighton), who entered the league last year. As the NCAA season kicks off in early **November 2023**, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how Mirković develops and if he can indeed live up to the comparisons being drawn to one of basketball’s greats.