Toni Kukoč

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Toni Kukoč () (born September 18, 1968 in Split, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia) is a retired Croatian professional basketball player. He was renowned for his versatility and passing ability; although his natural position was small forward, he played all five positions on the court with equal prowess and demonstrated court vision and an outside shooting touch that were seldom found in players of his height. Kukoč was one of the first established European stars to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

European career

So great was Kukoc's fame, even before playing in the NBA, Kukoc was earning $13 million over five years for a contract with the Italian clothier Benetton. He had a $5 million deal with Microsoft and Apple.

NBA career

The 6'11" (2.11 m) Kukoč came off the bench in 1993–94 behind small forward Scottie Pippen and power forward Horace Grant, though Kukoč could play shooting guard and center as well. Kukoč put up a solid rookie campaign, averaging double-digit scoring and earning a berth on the All-Rookie Second Team.

On May 13, 1994, at the end of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Bulls and the New York Knicks were tied 102-102. With 1.8 seconds left and the score tied, Bulls coach Phil Jackson designed the last play for rookie Kukoč, with Scottie Pippen charged with inbounding the basketball. Pippen was so angered by Jackson's decision to not let him take the potential game-winner that he refused to leave the bench and re-enter the game when the timeout was over. Kukoč did hit the game-winner, a 23-foot fadeaway jumper at the buzzer, though the Bulls eventually lost the series.

After Grant left in the offseason, Kukoč moved into the starting lineup and finished the 1994–95 season second on the Bulls in scoring, rebounds and assists behind Pippen.

In the 1995–96 season, Michael Jordan had returned, and the Bulls had acquired an exceptional rebounder, Dennis Rodman, in the offseason. With Pippen still at small forward, coach Phil Jackson saw it best to have Kukoč continue to be a bench player. Toni was third on the team in scoring (behind Jordan and Pippen) and was rewarded for his efforts with the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award. He also assisted the Bulls to a 25-game turnaround and the best record in league history at 72–10, as well as the fourth championship in team history. Kukoč is currently the last player to win the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award on a championship team in the same year.

In 1997 and 1998, Kukoč again came off the bench as sixth man as the Bulls won their fifth and sixth NBA titles. Once again, he was the team's third-leading scorer.

In early 1999, the team was broken up, and Kukoč was one of the only players from their championship years that the Bulls retained. In the lockout-shortened 1998-99 season, he led the team in scoring, rebounding, and assists. During the 1999–2000 season as Chicago continued their rebuilding scheme, Kukoč was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers for whom he played briefly before he was soon traded again to the Atlanta Hawks. After a short stint with the Hawks, he finally found himself in a more suitable fit with the Milwaukee Bucks via a third trade.

Retirement

Notes

External links

Category:1968 births Category:Living people Category:Atlanta Hawks players Category:Chicago Bulls draft picks Category:Chicago Bulls players Category:KK Split players Category:Yugoslav basketball players Category:Croatian basketball players Category:Croatian expatriate basketball people in the United States Category:Expatriate basketball people in Italy Category:Milwaukee Bucks players Category:Olympic basketball players of Yugoslavia Category:Olympic basketball players of Croatia Category:Basketball players at the 1988 Summer Olympics Category:Basketball players at the 1992 Summer Olympics Category:Olympic silver medalists for Yugoslavia Category:Olympic silver medalists for Croatia Category:People from Highland Park, Illinois Category:People from Split Category:Philadelphia 76ers players Category:Small forwards Category:Eurobasket-winning players Category:Pallacanestro Treviso players