Toni Kukoč

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Kukoč's NBA journey began when he reported to the Bulls in 1993 after being drafted in 1990, joining a team that had just finished its first three-peat and lost Michael Jordan to retirement. Although initially disappointed not to play alongside Jordan immediately, Kukoč made his debut on November 5, 1993. In the 1993–94 season, he came off the bench behind Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant, averaging double-digit scoring to earn a spot on the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. His clutch gene was evident early; on January 21, 1994, with 0.8 seconds remaining against the Indiana Pacers, he hit a three-point jumper at the buzzer for a 96–95 victory. Later that season, during Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the New York Knicks, coach Phil Jackson designed the final play for Kukoč over Scottie Pippen. Despite Pippen's refusal to re-enter the game due to anger, Kukoč hit a 23-foot fadeaway jumper at the buzzer to win, though the Bulls lost the series in seven games.

In Their Own Story

The 1995–96 season marked a turning point as Michael Jordan returned and Dennis Rodman joined the roster. With Pippen starting at small forward, Kukoč remained a bench player but delivered historic production, finishing third on the team in scoring behind Jordan and Pippen. His efforts earned him the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award, making him the fourth and currently last player to win that award and an NBA title in the same year. That season, the Bulls achieved a 72–10 record, the best in league history at the time, securing their fourth championship. Kukoč's role evolved during the next two titles; in the 1997 NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz, he came off the bench as the team's leading scorer, sealing Game 6 with a dunk to make it 90–86 with 0.6 seconds left. By the 1998 postseason, however, Kukoč moved into the starting lineup, starting all six games of the Finals against Utah again.

Reader's Guide

Toni Kukoč's career in Chicago is defined by his adaptability and elite skill set. Standing at 2.11 meters (6 ft 11 in), he played multiple positions, offering a unique blend of guard-like ball handling and forward-size defense. He won three NBA championships with the Bulls between 1996 and 1998. His accolades include being named NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 1996. After Jordan retired, Pippen was traded, and Phil Jackson left following the 1997–98 season, Kukoč remained the highest-scoring player from that dynasty's final year. He led the team in scoring, rebounding, and assists during the lockout-shortened 1998–99 season before being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers on February 16, 2000. His time with the Bulls concluded his era as a core champion, leaving behind a legacy of versatility that included winning EuroLeague MVP honors in Europe and Olympic silver medals representing both Yugoslavia (1988) and Croatia (1992). He was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021 and the Chicago Bulls' Ring of Honor in 2023.

Did You Know?

• Kukoč is one of only two players in history, alongside Vassilis Spanoulis, to win the EuroLeague Final Four MVP honor three times.
• He was the fourth and currently last player to win both the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award and an NBA title in the same season (1996).
• Kukoč hit a game-winning 3-pointer with 0.8 seconds left against the Indiana Pacers on January 21, 1994.
• He won Olympic silver medals playing for two different nations: Yugoslavia in 1988 and Croatia in 1992.