NBA Legends Explain Why Toni Kukoc Was A Monster

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  • Опубліковано 17 гру 2022
  • #michaeljordan #tonikukoc #nbalegends
    In this video NBA Legends Explain how good Toni Kukoc was.
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 638

  • @tiduschew2156
    @tiduschew2156 Рік тому +24

    MJ, Pippen, Rodman, Harper and Kukoc. Wow that team was stacked!
    This team would win championships in any era!

    • @vivienneduong6541
      @vivienneduong6541 11 місяців тому

      No, they were not stacked as in superstars. Pippin was a star, not even superstar, and everybody else was decent to good. LbJ, Wade, Allen, and Bosh- that is stacked. Still manage to lose to Dirk.

    • @iramkjr76
      @iramkjr76 3 місяці тому

      Don’t forget Luc Longley

    • @VelhaGuardaTricolor
      @VelhaGuardaTricolor 22 дні тому +1

      SPURS Dynasty, Kobe/Shaq Lakers, Big 4 Celtics, GSW 73-9 or GSW + KD, Lebron teams, Jokic Nuggets, This Current Stacked Celtics, ...

    • @jayadams9561
      @jayadams9561 21 день тому

      I feel old lol Ron Harper was no joke I remember he got hurt early in his career but man was he explosive and came through when we needed along with Toni,Longley,Brown,Buechler it was a great team of starters a Bench

  • @rcdenson1
    @rcdenson1 Рік тому +20

    There would be no second 3-peat without Toni Kukoc... none. He was an exceptionally gifted stretch forward with he ball handling, court vision and shooting of a guard. Very capable long & lanky defender to go with it. He fit right in with the Bulls system and that Triangle offense. He had to gain the Bulls "top guns" confidence first, Jordan & Pip, but once he did... boy was a monster unleashed. From all that we've seen and heard, he was a fantastic team mate and all around good guy, and that speaks volumes about how wonderful that guy was on and off the court.

  • @Rowgue51
    @Rowgue51 Рік тому +45

    Kukoc definitely gets slept on. Even back then most people didn't realize just how good that dude was. The fact that he was coming off the bench and not getting starter minutes is the only thing that kept him from piling up super star level stat lines.

    • @anjaeberle1656
      @anjaeberle1656 7 місяців тому

      💪🏼

    • @DBCOOPER888
      @DBCOOPER888 3 місяці тому +1

      The fact he was a 6 man shows how unbelievably talented that team was. Basically an All-Star team of its own.

  • @AnthonyJohnson-hl1ru
    @AnthonyJohnson-hl1ru Рік тому +109

    Toni kukoc was a factor 💯🏀💪

    • @wrandom7
      @wrandom7 Рік тому +2

      Hes averging 3ppg in this era 💀

    • @lifeonthelake4367
      @lifeonthelake4367 Рік тому +6

      @@wrandom7 shows how much you know kid.

    • @coolkid5924
      @coolkid5924 Рік тому +1

      ANTHONY JOHNSON!! KUKOC WAS JUST A BUS RIDER THAT IS IT!! FACTS ARE THE ONLY REASON HE WAS ON THE TEAM IS BECAUSE KRAUSE RAN AROUND EUROPE SUCKING HIM OFF LIKE HE WAS ANY GOOD!!! WHAT A FARCE!!! GO BACK LOOK AT THE VIDEOS WHO DO YOU SEE PHIL JACKSON CONSTANLY YELLING AT!!! AND JACKSON NEVER YELLED!!! KUKOC WAS A OVER KRAUSE HYPED PIECE OD GARBAGE AT BEST!!! I.E. 11 PTS A GAME CAREER SCORER!!!

    • @coolkid5924
      @coolkid5924 Рік тому +1

      @@wrandom7 PROBALY WOULD HAVE GOTTEN CUT FROM THE TEAM!!

    • @AnthonyJohnson-hl1ru
      @AnthonyJohnson-hl1ru Рік тому +8

      @@coolkid5924 OMG dude I'm 45 years old and from Chicago 🌃 dude, Michael Jordan 🏀 couldn't do it by himself, he had help, dam are you slow??

  • @matthieusaade3616
    @matthieusaade3616 Рік тому +17

    Kukoc today would be an all star franchise player. Potentially a more athletic version of Jokic

    • @alokinchi
      @alokinchi Рік тому +3

      Kukoč and Jokić are not comparable. Kukoč was quite a bit faster and more athletic than Jokić, and while in his prime, he played positions from 1 to 3 (point guard, shooting guard and small forward). Only later in his career he played some 4 (power forward). Jokić is slower and less athletic, but with the same high IQ as Kukoč. He will occasionally wander off his designated position, but one should never forget that he's first and foremost a center. A very skilled one coming from the same former Yugoslav basketball school.

  • @alexandrossimitzis146
    @alexandrossimitzis146 Рік тому +230

    Toni Kukoc! One of my favorite players of the late 80s (yup, as a Greek basketball fan, Toni played many times against Greek teams, and obviously I'd watch those games), up until he retired! I remember his Jugoplastika days and Pop 84 days (yup, that team changed names), to his Benetton Trevizo days, to his glory days in Chicago, and of course playing for Yugoslavia and Croatia! The dude was one of the first 7 footers with guard skills! He woulda been even better in today's game, because he could shoot, score and pass really well! What a great player he was! Thank you Toni for my child-hood, and adolescent memories!

    • @sasakalak4681
      @sasakalak4681 Рік тому +6

      when I was a kid I had a poster of Tony in natural size, it was too big to fit on my door so it was on the wall:) he was best european player and he had to warm the bench there. Such a waste.

    • @stophumpingthelaser
      @stophumpingthelaser Рік тому +5

      πες τα ρε πατρίδα! όσα χρόνια βλέπω μπάσκετ πραγματικά είναι ελάχιστοι οι παίκτες που έχω δει που μπορούνε/ μπορούσανε να παίξουν με την ίδια άνεση σχεδόν και στις 5 θέσεις… ο τύπος όταν ήθελε γινότανε playmaker σε κορμί power forward…το δε μπασκετικό του IQ ήταν σε άλλο επίπεδο

    • @kamilebrahimoff3589
      @kamilebrahimoff3589 Рік тому +4

      Toni Kukoc was my favorite European player in the NBA.

    • @kamilebrahimoff3589
      @kamilebrahimoff3589 Рік тому +1

      👍

    • @airkuna
      @airkuna Рік тому

      Wtf u talking about?!? He wasn't 7 footer...

  • @soundsforhealth8346
    @soundsforhealth8346 Рік тому +23

    Toni was the ultimate team player. What a joy to watch all those years with the Bulls.

  • @TNRealestateGuru
    @TNRealestateGuru Рік тому +74

    Toni was under-utilized, underestimated, & had way more talent that he was able to probably display because the Bulls were talent-packed. Excellent video

    • @TheSands83
      @TheSands83 Рік тому +1

      He was there b4 jordan. There was no zone defense so guys who were not good on defense could not play as much. He really struggled on defense like most European players b4 the zone

  • @TETRARCHMetalheadUnstableFreak
    @TETRARCHMetalheadUnstableFreak Рік тому +21

    Toni Kukoc was so important to the Bulls success in the second three peat for the Bulls the guy had amazing abilities on the court and score relentlessly

  • @unwokeneuropean3590
    @unwokeneuropean3590 Рік тому +9

    "Toni showed that to be a great player it doesnt matter where you come from".... This dude is crazy as hell. Its not like he was brought from the nowhere. He came from ex Yugoslavia !!!! Petrović, Divac, Rađa, Stojaković, Bogdanović, Jokić, Dončić.... After USA that area in the Balkans is the next center of basketball power.

  • @elviszupan563
    @elviszupan563 Рік тому +142

    Toni was before his time, skills of the guard with his length, amazing soft 3 points shot,drive to the basket and assists to die for. He always have 2-3 different option and that made him unpredictable.

    • @coolkid5924
      @coolkid5924 Рік тому +1

      SOFT AS A MARSHMELLOW!!!! OVERATED AT BEST!!!! OVER HYPED!!! TO THE MAX!!! WHAT A KRAUSE FARCE!!

    • @elviszupan563
      @elviszupan563 Рік тому +3

      @@coolkid5924 yeah stick with that story if it makes you feel better oh you saulty one lol.

    • @coolkid5924
      @coolkid5924 Рік тому +1

      @Elvis Zupan WOW!!! I HAVE TO WONDER !!! HOW GOOD IS YOUR EYESITE?? SOFT MARSHMELLOW KUKOC WAS NOT EVEN TOP TEN IN THE EURO PLAYERS COMING OVER HERE!!! GO READ 📚 AND CHECK THE STATS!!!
      YOU CAN LIE ALL YOU WANT BUT SORRY MORON NOTHING CHANGES THE FACTS!!! WHO GIVES A DAMM WHETHER YOU LIE ABOUT IT OR NOT!!!
      THAT IS ALL YOUR BULLSHIT THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO PEDDLE!!! NO SALE HERE DUMB DUMB TRY ANOTHER SITE!!!

    • @elviszupan563
      @elviszupan563 Рік тому +4

      @@coolkid5924 calling people names just shows your true quality.This is you making presentation, but not gonna fly on Christmas day .Now please go to your corner and stay quiet from now on.Kukoc was 3 times winner of Euroleague before he came to NBA.His stats were giant.He proved himself in NBA with 3 rings, being 6th man of the year.In any other franchise he had potential to be franchise player.

    • @coolkid5924
      @coolkid5924 Рік тому +1

      @@elviszupan563 HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!! STILL GOT JOKES HUH!!! HMMMM LET ME KNOW HOW VALUABLE BEING THREE TIME PLAYER OF EURO WAS BACK THEN!!!! HMMMMMMMMM!! I DO NOT THINK IT WAS ANY MORE VALUABLE THAN BEING COLLEGE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

  • @adaonetube
    @adaonetube 8 місяців тому +7

    Kukoc most certainly would have been a starter on 29 other teams. The fact that he accepted his role and didn't "cry" and "demand a trade" like most players would have done is a testament to Kukoc's true character. The Bulls don't win those 3 titles without Kukoc's bench production.

  • @davidjsouth231
    @davidjsouth231 Рік тому +5

    I was an avid Bulls hater but I was rooting for Kukoc

  • @eternalbossdoomsday
    @eternalbossdoomsday Рік тому +23

    Just another underrated piece of that incredibly stacked late 90s Bulls roster.

  • @Boss2739
    @Boss2739 Рік тому +10

    MONSTER!!!

  • @winwannur
    @winwannur Рік тому +7

    I saw Kukoc play for the first time in 1992 olympic in Barcelona, he led Croatia to final against the real dream team

    • @republikadugave420
      @republikadugave420 Місяць тому +1

      Kukoc played second fiddle to Petrović...but his Benetton days were special he basically led them to euroleague final

  • @mickeylee2624
    @mickeylee2624 Рік тому +95

    Kukoc is who made it possible for other skilled big Euroleague wing players to thrive in the league like Nowitzki, Giannis and Doncic.

    • @coolkid5924
      @coolkid5924 Рік тому +1

      MICKEY LEE!!! DAMMM!!! PASS THAT WHAT U R SMOKING!!! U R DISALLUNSIONAL AS THEY COME!!!!
      AGAIN PASS THAT!!!!!

    • @TheSands83
      @TheSands83 Рік тому +3

      It was tough for guys who were not great on defense to play in the 90s. Giannis would have been fine. But guys like luka would not b the same player

    • @nydibs
      @nydibs Рік тому +2

      Toni was a pg in Europe. The bulls forced him to bulk up to play pf. He put on a lot of weight and become much slower, but he was still very effective

    • @coolkid5924
      @coolkid5924 Рік тому +1

      @@TheSands83 HAHAHAHA!!! NOT GREAT ON DEFENSE??? WHO R U TRYING TO SELL THAT BS TOO!!! KUKOC COULD NOT WALK AND CHEW GUM AT THE SAME TIME!!! WHY DO U THINK JACKSON WAS SLWAYS IN HIS FACE YELLING AT HIM!!! HE WAS A TOTAL FARCE WHO SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN ON THE TEAM!!!

    • @coolkid5924
      @coolkid5924 Рік тому +1

      @Daniel Begonja HAHAHAHAHA!! PASS THAT WHAT U R SMOKING!! HE WAS A SLOW PG IN EUROPE !!! NOT AMERICA!!!! HE WAS A JOKE AT BEST!!!
      KRAUSE CHASED THAT FOOL LIKE HE WAS DIRK OR LUKA!!! HE WAS NO WHERE NEAR EITHER OF THEM!!! ALL HYPE AND LIES!!!! A BIG SOFT BUST!!!! AT BEST!!!

  • @33neptun
    @33neptun Рік тому +39

    Toni was a pure poetry in a motion. Incredible player. Everyone who had a chance to watch him play can considere himslef blessed. He is one in a 100 years. WAY ahead his time.

    • @davidpeters3857
      @davidpeters3857 9 місяців тому

      Loved watching him,what an era as well

  • @zigababnik8780
    @zigababnik8780 Рік тому +24

    His versatility, artistry and influence on basketball evolution is still much underappreciated.

  • @Champwsox05
    @Champwsox05 Рік тому +3

    I'm a Bulls fan and even sometimes I forget about Tony. I shouldn't. The guy was really great.

  • @vlesmeries
    @vlesmeries Рік тому +22

    Such an underrated player. Loved to watch him at work, just a quiet assassin who put his head down and did what was necessary for his team.

  • @rafikz77
    @rafikz77 Рік тому +13

    The Bulls had in Kukoc :
    - the best international player at the time bar Hakeem
    - one of the most versatile players in the NBA , a matchup nightmare
    - the fact that he was a lefty added to those matchup problems
    - also a clutch shooter
    And that man was a 6th man !
    And so,e people say the Bulls weren’t stscked

    • @TheSands83
      @TheSands83 Рік тому

      Sabonis was better than Toni

    • @rafikz77
      @rafikz77 Рік тому +1

      @@TheSands83 yes but the Sabonis we got in the NBA was the 31 old version with bad knees unfortunately
      Too bad we didn’t get the healthy younger version because of political reasons, MJ would have had 3 rings instead of 6

    • @mjjfk8750
      @mjjfk8750 10 місяців тому +1

      ​@@TheSands83if Sabonis was better, why didn't he win European Club Championship 3 times in a row (as a teen/twen) ;)
      not to mention 3 NBA titles, cause this is another story:)

  • @whobitmyname
    @whobitmyname Рік тому +12

    I wish there was more footage of Steve Kerr, when Toni hit that game winner against Indiana, he gave Miller back his bow. Hilarious burn.

  • @MatthewLoop
    @MatthewLoop Рік тому +19

    Toni is a starter on any other team. He was a huge asset to the Bulls, though.

  • @jotunmarty
    @jotunmarty Рік тому +16

    Scottie Pippen : " we wanted to guard Toni on the bench " that made me actually laugh out loud

    • @rickytran2378
      @rickytran2378 4 місяці тому

      I also heard Micheal Jordan say "we wanted to guard him in the shower"

  • @daddyrare
    @daddyrare Рік тому +15

    The Waiter 🔥 the father of all these 6'10 , 7'0 3 point shooters in the NBA right now .

  • @freedomfight1933
    @freedomfight1933 Рік тому +3

    Loved Toni back in the day, very well balanced, high skill, smart player. You don't see much of that today.

  • @rodneycarterakaice2281
    @rodneycarterakaice2281 Рік тому +11

    Toni K was super nice!! He could do everything offensively.

  • @ericbogar9665
    @ericbogar9665 Рік тому +175

    He could have been a starter on another team and possibly an all-star eventually. He would dominate in todays league.

    • @wrandom7
      @wrandom7 Рік тому +6

      Hes averging 3 points in this era

    • @ericbogar9665
      @ericbogar9665 Рік тому +37

      @@wrandom7 That's hilarious. That guy could shoot from anywhere and was a great passer.

    • @ericbogar9665
      @ericbogar9665 Рік тому +23

      @@wrandom7 Back then stretch bigs weren't needed much. They were nice to have but he was too small for PF and too slow for SF. Today he would fit in. Bigs aren't real bigs anymore. He could easily play PF in todays league with smaller PFs and even Centers.

    • @johnrambo9400
      @johnrambo9400 Рік тому +26

      @@wrandom7 if jokic can be a franchise player in today NBA, Kukoc would have dominated. He was that good. The "waiter" was one of a kind.

    • @Skyscraper330
      @Skyscraper330 Рік тому +17

      On the 3 peat team he was good for a 12ppg 4ast 4 rebs... When it was his turn then and MJ and Scottie were gone then he went 18ppg 5ast 5 reb... In today's modern no defense game he would be going for 24ppg 6ast 6reb

  • @dxbpanda
    @dxbpanda Рік тому +5

    Toni once a sixth man of the year..
    I remeber there was a game when Jordan and Pip was completely off that night there behind of more than 20 pts.. Phil even let both of them sat on the bench and Toni like Buchler williams and Kerr where on the floor they manage to win the game..man that was i called incredebulls

  • @NocturnalHustler1
    @NocturnalHustler1 Рік тому +5

    Stroll down a great memory lane. 👏🏾

  • @Saucelight88
    @Saucelight88 Рік тому +31

    Tony Kukoc would be a consistent all star in this era

    • @joegibbskins
      @joegibbskins Рік тому

      This era is weak talk is so fucking gay. Kukoc would have been an all star in the 90s if he played for a team where he wasn’t the sixth man.

    • @albertc2390
      @albertc2390 Рік тому

      No he wouldn't. Even just comparing him to the modern day European players, he is not on their level.

    • @hammertime9132
      @hammertime9132 Рік тому

      Which area?

    • @michaelzeigler3733
      @michaelzeigler3733 Рік тому +3

      Y’all are hatin he was a stud but he played with Michael jordan and Scottie pippen.. not to much hall left after that and he still did his thing
      But he was a great great pure shooter almost 7 foot tall and had great handles for his size... yes he would have been great had he been featured in an offense

    • @dknox90803
      @dknox90803 Рік тому

      Turkoglu was a better shooter

  • @Ben-yw8be
    @Ben-yw8be Рік тому +5

    Kukoc was awesome. If I imitate a player as a kid, he was good.

  • @martysoulard7349
    @martysoulard7349 Рік тому +8

    Toni was great to watch play. He was an assassin on the hardwood.

  • @unappealingundesirable2826
    @unappealingundesirable2826 Рік тому +2

    As Shawn David knows, I was born in Seattle in 1973, where I grew up. Sonics and Blazers fan. Japanese-American, too. Toni Kukoc was FUN to watch! Back when I was younger, I loved practicing Toni Kukoc drives to the basket, and Toni Kukoc post-up turnaround jumpers!

  • @ExcuseZero
    @ExcuseZero Рік тому +4

    Agreed. Whenever I list the 96 Bulls I ALWAYS mention Tony. He was such a key part of our successes

  • @Chozen.78
    @Chozen.78 Рік тому +8

    I watched all the bulls 6 championships! Grateful to be a part of that era. Class of 96.

  • @blancosmoke
    @blancosmoke Рік тому +12

    9:12 even now, there’s only a few people in the world that CAN AND WILL make that pass. Beautiful. 3/4 of the court alley-oop. Amazing.

    • @brianthal458
      @brianthal458 Рік тому

      One of my favorite highlights of all time. I need to look it up every once in a while to make sure it happened like I remember.

  • @whenniceguysretaliate5619
    @whenniceguysretaliate5619 Рік тому +10

    Awesome player. And he came of the bench.
    Much respect.

  • @alexdb77
    @alexdb77 Рік тому +5

    Dealt with adversity and won! One of the greatest!

  • @sevinbamuels6560
    @sevinbamuels6560 Рік тому +6

    Reggie takes a Bow.. Toni is like: Hold my beer! Hahaha ha!

    • @unwokeneuropean3590
      @unwokeneuropean3590 Рік тому

      Toni was a gentleman, so he took the bow for Reggie. He had to return the favor. Its about an honor and some good manners.

  • @bakimc4722
    @bakimc4722 Рік тому +4

    Тони Кукоч,велика играчина 👍

  • @HeathInClearLake
    @HeathInClearLake Рік тому +4

    I've been unable to find the play, but I think it was during the 72-10 season in a game against Philly. Sixers missed a J, the ball bounced high and as Toni Kukoc was securing the rebound, Pippen broke down the court on a fast break. Dude hit Pippen with an alleyoop from 3/4 court. Pip jumped, caught and dunked it in one motion, it was crazy. 9:12

  • @da7a69
    @da7a69 Рік тому +7

    Huge fan of Tony! Great work 👏🙌🏻

  • @gumbeauxorleans
    @gumbeauxorleans Рік тому +11

    The 3/4 COURT ally to Pip! 🔥🔥🔥⚜

    • @sevinbamuels6560
      @sevinbamuels6560 Рік тому +1

      Not only that but it was off a rebound and no dripple. Just turn and Lob 3/4 court. I've seen Never seen that

    • @ronaldpatrickrubin3096
      @ronaldpatrickrubin3096 Рік тому

      The precision of the pass kinda makes me think he could’ve shot it from there and made it 😂

  • @efrenarnold5379
    @efrenarnold5379 Рік тому +8

    I remember Toni’s game back in the man . He was that good until now I still appreciate what he brought to the table . Helping the Chicago bulls to win more championships. Chicago team back then was like a whole person a human body . Each player fits and played their part .

  • @AnthonyJohnson-hl1ru
    @AnthonyJohnson-hl1ru Рік тому +14

    MJ GREATEST OF All TIME 🏀🏅😎💯

  • @steveclapper5424
    @steveclapper5424 Рік тому +4

    In a championship series the bench is absolutely critical. The ability to spell the starters while holding or improving your position can't be overstated.

  • @bigtlumber
    @bigtlumber Рік тому +6

    I saw toni warm up near end of his career. Incredible shooter.

  • @upicku
    @upicku Рік тому +10

    Best European player ever!!!

  • @flp6954
    @flp6954 Рік тому +5

    Toni Kukoč! Igračina!🇭🇷

  • @andythomas9564
    @andythomas9564 Рік тому +1

    He was great,one of my favorite players growing up

  • @mrfatuchi
    @mrfatuchi Рік тому +13

    Arguably one of the clutchest players in history of basketball; definitely most efficient one of all time considering how many he took and how many he hit. He hit four game winners in his debut season with the Bulls. In 98' finals game 5(Bulls up 3-1) against Jazz he was having a monster game 30pts 11/13 from the field(look up the highlights of that game), Utah was up by two and there was 0.8 seconds left(same as against Pacers where he silenced Reggie Milller haha). You can see Phil drew up a play for Kukoc because he knew he can hit that shot but Jordan, in his selfishness(which I guess made him great) literally intercepts the pass and chucks a poor attempt, much poorer than what Kukoc would have done. Now imagine that pass gets to Kukoc and that shot goes in, Kukoc would be the hero with 33pts and an insane game winner for the championship. Just think what would that do for Jordan's legacy... But instead we got that famous last shot of Jordan for the win... funny how things work out. Ironically this is what pissed Pippen of in Last dance where he felt Jordan took too much spotlight but he also had that terrible moment where also couldnt let Kukoc take the spotlight against the Knicks... Everybody knows that famous saying of Pat Riley: “If I had to choose a player to take a shot to save a game, I’d choose Michael Jordan. If I had to choose a player to take a shot to save my life, I’d take Larry Bird.” I would add to that; if we need a shot to save the world, I'd take Toni Kukoc, an ice cold 6'10 lefty.

    • @LawrenceAugust_
      @LawrenceAugust_ 8 місяців тому +1

      Jordan was selfish enough to pass to Paxson to win the championship in 93, and to Kerr in 97 for the championship. Selfish enough to average 11.4 assists per game in the 1991 NBA Finals... He was also selfish enough to end up #6 all-time in assists per game at the shooting guard position. So selfish.

  • @RicoBanani
    @RicoBanani Рік тому +4

    when Toni joined the Bulls there was criticism of the Bulls managment by croatian press for trying to make him into a heavy classical (american) power forward instead of using him for his strengths. Toni bulked up but kept his game also. Today players who resemble Toni are highly appreciated in the NBA. The most talented player Croatia ever had.

    • @muhammadfarhan581
      @muhammadfarhan581 Рік тому +4

      Mavs almost, really almost destroy dirk's career by asking him to be classic murica style power forward. Don nelson disagree and practically not just save dirk career but made him hall of famer

    • @ivanjuric4438
      @ivanjuric4438 15 днів тому

      after Petro… best! ;)

  • @wyatt5542
    @wyatt5542 Рік тому +2

    This channel is consistently the best basketball content on UA-cam.

  • @ergoat
    @ergoat Рік тому +15

    I remember as a kid the hype around Toni Kukoc joining the Bulls leading up to the 1992 Olympics, and the rivalry that created between him, Krause and Jordan and Pippen. So I eagerly watched to see if Kukoc was amazing as he was built up during that first USA Dream Team vs Croatia match (like everyone else). Poor Toni. Obviously he redeemed himself in those Olympics, later winning 6th man of the year in the NBA, and winning 3 championships with the Bulls, to add to his Yugoslavian/Croatian titles. Great video.

    • @darkgable85
      @darkgable85 Рік тому +1

      There was a rivalry between Krause and MJ before that

    • @coolkid5924
      @coolkid5924 Рік тому +1

      DONT KNOW WHAT U WERE WATCHING!! BUT KUKOC WAS NOTHING BUT A BUST!!!! THROUGH AND THROUGH!!! KRAUSE CHASED THIS!!! REALLY REALLY !! WHAT A JOKE!!

    • @darkgable85
      @darkgable85 Рік тому +3

      @@coolkid5924 I didn't know a sixth man can be a bust..... Stop being a casual

    • @bizzobrigante1588
      @bizzobrigante1588 Рік тому +3

      @@coolkid5924 Chetnik detected 😂🤣

  • @Given2Fly7173
    @Given2Fly7173 Рік тому +10

    Guy could have been a superstar on any other team!!

    • @amonone399
      @amonone399 Рік тому

      Jordan was the greatest of his time, not all time.

    • @jr6178
      @jr6178 Рік тому +1

      An All-Star a couple of times on the right team. Jordan, Hakeem, Robinson, Barkley, Shaq were superstars

    • @Given2Fly7173
      @Given2Fly7173 Рік тому

      @x yeah, 2nd part of his career…I’m talking about straight out of the gate.

  • @dannyh5937
    @dannyh5937 Рік тому +3

    Basketball fans from the 90s remember all the hype surrounding Toni. Who was this mysterious European with the size of PF and skills of a PG? Toni lived up to the hype, and in my opinion, surpassed the hype. Amazing bball player with so many tools.

    • @mjjfk8750
      @mjjfk8750 10 місяців тому

      you mean there was a hype in the US about Toni?

  • @rrtds9378
    @rrtds9378 Рік тому +2

    I never follow basketball recruitments, I just remember Toni Kukoc when he showed up in the Bulls lineup. I thought who is this new guy, seem out of place. But wow he sure proved he was good, really good player. So many plays and shots he did contributing to the Bulls championships.

  • @TioVar2023
    @TioVar2023 Рік тому +29

    The Real Toni! Thanks for the clips, great player, great teammate. Takes a bigger man to accept the bench role he played in the second 3-peat. It would be nice, if you did a follow-up piece in which you cover his career after Jordan retired. It is a not as glamorous, but fans are still interested.

    • @dusk6159
      @dusk6159 Рік тому

      Uno dei più valorosi giocatori di sempre

  • @ve462
    @ve462 Рік тому +1

    MERRY CHRISTMAS 🎄 GO TONY ❤️ DA BULLS ❤️

  • @Tranciomix
    @Tranciomix Рік тому +3

    Hello everyone! I'm an Italian basketball enthusiast (and analyst) and I've been following you for a long time. Kukoc was the most complete European player of the 90s (the stronger Petrovic, the stronger was Sabonis with equal marks with Còsić). Great video, that Kukoc was a three point specialist and an additional point guard in those vulls, 206cm tall, observers saw long. his flaw? in the 1992 olympics performing below expectations, especially in the initial phase, an nba player had to make an impact right away (and rightly so). for us europeans we still see the nba with different eyes, we are still in love with usa basketball! come on NBA!
    any players i wish i could have seen in the nba in the 80's? Meneghin (even for just a handful of games), Magnifico, Binelli, Morandotti, Dalipagic, Djordevic, Dalipagic, Cosic, Galis, Fasoulas, Oscar Schimdt. and these only from the 80s. Ettore Messina and many others say that certain physiques and certain athletic skills are found only in the USA, you are always the best and the point of reference for all of us italians and Europeans! Hello everybody!

  • @marcosfernandeznanita7150
    @marcosfernandeznanita7150 Рік тому +2

    Thank you for sharing this video man, i remember those days

  • @sevenspaulding123
    @sevenspaulding123 Рік тому +30

    He was one of the most unpredictable players 🏀

    • @ergoat
      @ergoat Рік тому +1

      Yeah, sometimes with the Bulls he have like a quiet 6 points, and other nights he'd drop 25 like it was nothing. But that unpredictability off the bench is what kept opposing teams scrambling, not knowing what to expect or where the scoring was coming from (besides Jordan and Pippen, obviously) night after night.

    • @coolkid5924
      @coolkid5924 Рік тому +1

      YEAH !! U NEVER NEW WHEN HE WAS GOING TO WET HIS PANTS AND CRY 😢

  • @byebyewatchtower
    @byebyewatchtower Рік тому +1

    Absolutely agree. Thanks for highlighting Toni.

  • @markussladek6678
    @markussladek6678 Рік тому +2

    Toni was great!

  • @jw870206
    @jw870206 3 місяці тому

    Jordan drew me to the Bulls, and then I gained an appreciation for his teammates and his coaches. Toni is one of my favorites, hands down. He comes from a beautiful country. He worked hard. He was fearless. And the assets he brought to the floor were crucial. He could quite literally play just about any position and stretch the floor with his perimeter game, or he could create plays with his passing and his uncanny presence of mind on the floor.

  • @jaironunez7196
    @jaironunez7196 Рік тому

    2:15 That was Exactly the play that came to my mind when I read the title of this video!! FANTASTIC!!

  • @davidpeters3857
    @davidpeters3857 9 місяців тому

    Loved watching this legend back in the day,my favourite era

  • @teslasuperdestinations
    @teslasuperdestinations Рік тому +3

    before coming to Chicago, his Euro fans would chant Queen's "We Will, We Will, Rock You!", with their own lyrics "To-ny, To-ny, Ku-Koc!" There must be a tape of this floating somewhere!

  • @tgracing5532
    @tgracing5532 Рік тому +3

    Great video Sean, Tony was a weapon

  • @theulti-mateplayer
    @theulti-mateplayer Рік тому +6

    Toni war ein Biest 😎 er konnte alles spielen! Guard, forward und Center! Er würde heute rulen ähnlich wie Luca Doncic

  • @oder1skl
    @oder1skl 3 місяці тому

    der typ war der hammer damals. als teenie jump ran auf sat1 geguckt und der war bei den bulls nicht wegzudenken. teil eines legendären teams

  • @adamturner8732
    @adamturner8732 Рік тому +1

    I watched all those games every night... toni was one of one type player at the time. The size and skill of a guard. He was amazing

  • @frankgoebbels3683
    @frankgoebbels3683 7 місяців тому

    Toni is the winner of game 6 in the 1998 final. absolut machine.

  • @davejag33
    @davejag33 Рік тому +2

    Toni’s rookie season was awesome! That 93-94’ team might have been the best if they had Jordan starting and Pete Meyers off the bench

  • @erickgrageda4148
    @erickgrageda4148 Рік тому +6

    The man ahead of his time

  • @AllinOne-dg3dk
    @AllinOne-dg3dk 5 місяців тому

    TONI KUKOC IS A FREAKIN LEGEND!

  • @chaechong8199
    @chaechong8199 Рік тому +2

    NICE WORK 👏👏👏👏

  • @LegendMathai
    @LegendMathai Рік тому +1

    My GOAT & when a kid sees 7 over 23, that's saying a lot. Tony is the man!

  • @bwink23
    @bwink23 Рік тому +9

    Little known fact about Toni....he could dunk from the FT line.

    • @coolkid5924
      @coolkid5924 Рік тому

      LIAR

    • @bwink23
      @bwink23 Рік тому +1

      @@coolkid5924 Not

    • @andrijarucevic3187
      @andrijarucevic3187 Рік тому

      Yes, he could.

    • @coolkid5924
      @coolkid5924 Рік тому +1

      @Andrija Rucevic NOT A HARD FEAT FOOL!!! ESPECIALLY WHEN U R 6'11" AND HE COULD BARLEY DO THAT !!!!! WHAT WAS HIS VERTICAL 5 INCHES!!!
      GIVE MEA BREAK!!!!! ALL OF U LYING CLOWNS 🤡

    • @ivicapaic6284
      @ivicapaic6284 Рік тому +1

      I prije nego je dosao u NBA.Dok je igrao u Jugoplastiki u Splitu.Ako ne vjerujete pronadjite snimke,to je danas lako.🇭🇷
      Prevedi na engleski.

  • @bobbyjoeyoung2becausesteph194
    @bobbyjoeyoung2becausesteph194 Рік тому +7

    Very underrated high iq player lost in the shadows of other great players

  • @ianwebb3496
    @ianwebb3496 Рік тому +1

    My wife and I were looking at this and reminiscing about watching Toni in real time. A standing joke was to yell at his defenders (via the TV, so I doubt they heard), "HE"S LEFT HANDED!!" His ability to go left, at relatively low speed, when everyone in the world knew that he was going to go left was a joy to watch. In a few of these clips, you get to see how he did it; what a great fake-right!!

  • @rickdynes
    @rickdynes Рік тому

    Thank You, Sir
    for this WONDERFUL CHANNEL

  • @DimitriNakos
    @DimitriNakos Рік тому

    I loved Toni back in the day. I was like the only person living in NC with a Kukoc Jersey :)

  • @SURF4LIFE84
    @SURF4LIFE84 6 місяців тому

    Great video !

  • @SealAngel
    @SealAngel Рік тому +1

    Kukoc was an importna piece to that second Bulls dynasty, great player!

  • @jorcial
    @jorcial Рік тому +2

    What about this five? (Every one in his prime and with almost the same height)
    1.- Magic Jhonson.
    2.- Larry Bird.
    3.- Scottie Pippe.
    4.- Karl Malone.
    5.- Shawn Kemp. And Tony Kukoc as 6th man.

  • @sebastian2991981
    @sebastian2991981 Рік тому +4

    Tony Kukoc! El Ginóbilli de los 90´s, tiene super merecido estar en el Hall of Fame de la NBA, como uno de los mejores jugadores extranjeros. Es uno de los tantos que abrió las puertas de la NBA a jugadores del exterior, como tambíen Drazen Petrovic, el Jordan de Croacia, Arvydas Sabonis, el aleman Detlef Schrempf, Divac, etc...Ahora es re común ver jugadores extrajeros en la NBA, pero antes era una gran noticia que llegaran jugadores y pudieran consagrarse en la NBA llegando desde otros países.
    Esos jugadores en los 90´s, abrieron las puertas a las nuevas generaciones y no hay que olvidarse de ellos.
    Tony Kukock! The Ginóbilli of the 90's, deserves to be in the NBA Hall of Fame, as one of the best foreign players. He is one of the many who opened the doors of the NBA to foreign players, such as Drazen Petrovic, Jordan from Croatia, Arvydas Sabonis, the German Detlef Schrempf, Divac, etc... Now it is common to see foreign players in the NBA, but before it was great news that players arrived and could consecrate themselves in the NBA coming from other countries.
    Those players in the 90's opened the doors to the new generations and we must not forget them.

    • @GoranRadic
      @GoranRadic Рік тому +1

      Petrovic came to NBA before Toni.

  • @h.j.victory6103
    @h.j.victory6103 Рік тому +8

    I still consider Toni Kukoc as the best European basketball player.
    That's just my personal opinion 🤷 😌 🙂

  • @jaironunez7196
    @jaironunez7196 Рік тому

    AMAZING PLAYER TONI!!!

  • @donniemoder1466
    @donniemoder1466 Рік тому +8

    Tony was very good. He was given a great set up for success by being on the Bulls, but he had to play behind Pippen and Jordan most of the time, so he had less opportunity to shine individually.

  • @MM-mo2yc
    @MM-mo2yc 3 місяці тому

    The late 80s/90’s were a great time for Bulls fans.

  • @kresimirvrcic5083
    @kresimirvrcic5083 Рік тому +2

    If you ask the majority of Croats, I believe that more than half will say that Drazen Petrovic is the greatest player in Croatian basketball, which is absolutely true, but for me Kukoč is definitely number 1 ... One of the reasons is that I had the opportunity to watch Toni's career live, but aside from that, to be a part of a Bulls team, probably the best basketball team of all time, and to have such a score, that is, to be named the sixth best player in the league, and to be a more than equal part of that team, not to mention his skills that later proved to be the forerunner of that style of all around player, I think is more than enough reason...

  • @craigwilks2202
    @craigwilks2202 Рік тому +2

    When people claim those Bulls teams in the 2nd 3peat wouldn't be realistic in today's game may not know that one of the most dangerous line ups at that time was Kukuc at the 4 (Mj, Harper, Pippen, Kukuc, Rodman) that line up was nothing but length, agility and speed, on both ends

  • @Do77744
    @Do77744 7 місяців тому

    absolutely great watching this nba chicago bulls team games

  • @bartmitsfer
    @bartmitsfer Рік тому +10

    Hey Sean,
    Great vid, can you do a vid on Joe Dumars. I loved the early 99s pistons. He was a huge part of their success.

    • @ergoat
      @ergoat Рік тому +1

      Yeah! ESPN, years back (2004?), had a 30 minute show on the Most Underrated Players Ever, and ranked Joe Dumars number one. I'd like to see how other NBA players feel about that sentiment. (I think Bob Petitt was #2)

  • @user-ui8or8cq7l
    @user-ui8or8cq7l 5 місяців тому

    Great channel--good hosting, good editing, glad I found you!
    Who didn't love the Bulls? Kukoc is the man!

  • @gkniffen
    @gkniffen Рік тому

    I was so lucky to grow up in Illinois when the Bulls had all these players... 🔥

  • @Kashed
    @Kashed Рік тому +12

    Tony Kukoc was an amazing all around offensive player. The perfect compliment to those Championship Bulls teams and fit them perfectly. At that time, to me, there was only one other European player who was above his level offensively and that was Drazen Petrovic. However, with the Bulls already having Jordan and Pippen as the lead scorers, Tony’s playmaking and passing abilities were a better fit for the team. The 86 Celtics, 80’s Lakers and 2010’s Warriors teams with KD were all great but, those Bulls teams were the best of all time and they have the championships prove it.

    • @fabiopozzi5175
      @fabiopozzi5175 Рік тому +1

      Drazen and Toni in the 90s ,were at the same level of the best nba players

    • @jr6178
      @jr6178 Рік тому +1

      Detlef, Sabonis, Marciulionis, Divac, Smiths etc. Euros very underrated in the 90s and other internal players. They would all do better today including Toni obviously.