The great thing about the early ‘90s is that the internet was still in its infancy, access-wise. While Toni Kukoc’s name was already a staple in Europe basketball, he entered the Bulls lineup in 1993 with barely anyone in the team knowing who he was. Even coach Phil Jackson had only seen him play a few times.
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| Image source: espn.co.uk |
But the 24-year-old southpaw Croatian was quick to show his star play, ushering in the first great era of international players in the NBA. By 1996, after just three years with the team, he became a crucial cog in the Bulls second three-peat. He earned NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 1996 and ended his Bulls career the same time Jordan did, a three-time NBA champion in his own right.
With the 6’11’ Kukoc providing outside shooting from the bench, Bulls had no shortage of firepower. Great court vision and passing were his forte, and his tall frame didn’t hamper the Bulls’ speedy play. True, the Bulls made him play away from his strengths in his initial years, but when things were not so good in 1997 with Scottie Pippen sidelined for the first half of the season, it was Kukoc who delivered for the Bulls.
Toni would go on to play for three other NBA franchises in the twilight of his NBA career and retire in 2006 after 13 seasons. But his impact on the Bulls’ charmed second series of championships will not be forgotten by both Bulls fans and management. In fact, in 2015, Kukoc would return to Chicago as a special adviser to the team president.
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| Image source: nba.com |
