Vlade (Divac) got to play because Kareem retired, but Drazen is in Portland and not a minute of playing time. They are playing guys who are garbage behind (Terry) Porter and (Clyde (Drexler) and he's not playing? So what am I going to do with the NBA champions in the game?" Kukoc said he was asked by many. "‘Phil (Jackson) is not going to look my way.' I am going to sit on the bench and not close to going in there. That is the fear everyone had wasting our careers, signing for three or four years to say, ‘I sat with Magic and Worthy cheerleading.' There was always this question. Should we go? They cannot guarantee we will get a chance. But we thought if we bring our stuff, which obviously rocks because we were playing against U.S. national teams and we are kicking ass. So we decided we just must be good enough; there must be something."

I never thought he was as good as advertised ( thank Krause for that ) although it might have been a little tough to judge how good he could’ve been had he not been playing with who he was playing with but he certainly seem to have a winners mentality based on those quotes

I never thought he was as good as advertised ( thank Krause for that ) although it might have been a little tough to judge how good he could’ve been had he not been playing with who he was playing with but he certainly seem to have a winners mentality based on those quotes

C'mon, man. The dude was legit. Point forward at 6'11, clutch as hell (4 game winners in his rookie season alone, including against NY in the playoffs), and then provided another dimension to the three point offense that no one else on the team could provide outside of Jordan and Pippen.

Career stats miss the point, I am talking about his Bulls tenure. Krause was in fact right about him - the Bulls are not winning the second three-peat without Toni.

Krause wasn't correct about him. He billed him as a Luka Doncic type talent prior to his arrival. He wasn't that but he was still a solid piece though.

Could Doncic have weathered Jordan's abuse?

And that's before he would have had to settle for 50% less of the shots that he currently enjoys.

Kukoc would be perfect for todays game. While I agree he is not as good as Luka, he would be closer to him if he had played in the current NBA

8 think so too.

The more free wheeling, offense heavy game would suit him much better.

Plus like Crest said, I don't know that Luka could handle being hated by his team and the league for simply being liked by the GM.

Toni was also ahead of his time. A point forward before it was cool. Nowadays everyone is a point forward.

Within the Bulls universe of 12-15 players, he was tier 1. The only guy after Jordan and Pip who could create his own shot. When pippen sat out the first 30 games or whatever of 1998 who do you think slid into the role of shouldering the burden of creating offense?

There was literally no one on that roster who couldn't score without the help of a screen or a set play except for Jordan pippen and kukoc.

8 think so too.

The more free wheeling, offense heavy game would suit him much better.

Plus like Crest said, I don't know that Luka could handle being hated by his team and the league for simply being liked by the GM.