The Bulls were ready to break up after 6.

Phil was gone.

MJ had cut his finger on some cigar cutter. I think the story was probably just bullshit and over-exaggerated but an excuse nonetheless.

All this because they couldn't get along with the GM.

The ego of all these guys, players , coaches, GM, Owner.

Too bad MJ / Pip didn't embrace Tony Kukoc. They hated him just because he was Krause's boy. It was a great move to bring him to the Bulls. I remember they use to call him the European Jordan when he played in Europe.

It's unreal how Tony Kukoc didn't become a mega star in the city of Chicago considering the large amount of Eastern European or descendants of Eastern European's in the city.

I think if MJ got along with him he could have been close to the star locally Mj was, but not nationally.

There's no bigger Kukoc fan than me but even I think this is way off base. The bad blood you speak of died down by the time the Bulls started winning again in 1996. In fact it was ancient history. It was clear by that time that Kukoc posed no threat to Pippen or Jordan's preeminence; in fact he became a well regarded role player who on occasion could be relied on as a star. As winner of the sixth man award on at least one occasion if not more I'd say he was appropriately loved by the fans. Saying he could have become a local Jordan in popularity is way off - he was adored just fine for his contributions and reputation.

Pippen owed Kukoc big-time after Kukoc sank the winning shot in 1.8 second "migraine" game. Had the Bulls lost that game, Pippen would have been run out of town.