Toni Kukoc He was ahead of his time. A player with a privileged physique in terms of height and speed who sees basketball like few others and who was one of the first European players to have a true role in an NBA that he conquered three times in the Chicago Bulls of Michael Jordan y Scottie Pippen.
Perhaps having been selected by one of the best teams in basketball history could play against a Kukoc who many said could have been the franchise player elsewhere in the NBA, although he would not have won as much as he did with Jordan.
Sam Smith, author of ‘The Jordan Rules’ And one of the journalists who has followed the Bulls the most in their history, believes that the career of Kukoc, recently elected to the Hall of Fame, could have been different from having played in another franchise: “Right now the NBA is dominated by European players. If Toni Kukoc had gone to almost any team other than the Bulls, he would have dominated the NBA. It would have been what he is. Doncic today, a candidate for MVP. “
The Croatian player himself picks up the glove of the comparison and has also spoken about the Slovenian star of the Mavericks in whom he is reflected: “Doncic plays the way that I did. When I was in Europe it’s exactly the way I played, but when I came to the Bulls that position was reserved for Scottie, “Kukoc recalled after the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, of which he is now a full member.