Back in 2021, longtime Chicago Bulls writer Sam Smith compared former Bulls star Toni Kukoc to current NBA star Luka Doncic. According to Smith, if Toni ended up playing for a team other than the Bulls, he would have been like what Luka is today.
Brandon “Scoop” Robinson caught up with Kukoc shortly after Smith said that and asked the Croatian if he saw similarities between the Slovenian’s game and his. Toni went on to tell Brandon that Luka is today what he was before he came to America.
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“When I played in Europe, that was exactly the way I played,” said Kukoc. “When I got to the Bulls, obviously, that position was more or less reserved for Scottie. He was the one besides Ron Harper, bringing the ball forward, being that small forward, point forward, let’s say.”
Toni didn’t get to handle the ball as much in the NBA
Listed at 6’11”, Kukoc was a versatile player who could play point forward. He could dribble the ball like a guard, make good passes, and score the basketball. Not only was the Split native tough to guard because he was a left-hander, but Toni could finish strong at the basket and hit the outside shot, extending his range to three-point distance.
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However, while those are the same abilities that Doncic has, the Slovenian sensation has almost always played point guard throughout his basketball career. On the other hand, the “Pink Panther” was primarily a small forward who could play either guard position if needed. But because he played with the ultimate point forward in Pippen, Kukoc’s ball-handling duties were limited.
“There were times when I would get the rebound; I had the freedom to bring the ball up. If Harp wasn’t playing, if Scottie wasn’t playing, or if Dennis wasn’t playing. I always had a carte blanche from coaches, from Phil to handle the ball, and then bring the ball up. And obviously, during the game, according to the matchups we had, I was given a chance to handle the ball, play one-on-one, play outside the triangle,” added Toni.
Kukoc would’ve been a bigger star if he played in another team
Although Phil Jackson gave him the chance to display his wares in Chicago, and Toni ended up with three championships and a Hall of Fame career in the NBA, he never became the star that Luka is today. Kukoc believes that he could have been, had he not played for a loaded championship team in the Bulls.
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“If Michael and Scottie hadn’t played in my position, I believe I would have been a much bigger star. When I came to the club before Jordan came back, there were games when I scored up to 30 points each,” said Kukoc.
No question about that. Kukoc was a legit 20-point scorer in Italy before coming over to the NBA. If he got the same opportunities as Drazen Petrovic in New Jersey or Vlade Divac in Sacramento, he would’ve gotten at least one All-Star selection and probably an All-NBA nod. With the breaks he’s gotten, Doncic has five All-Star and All-NBA selections. However, Toni has three rings, something that Luka, Drazen, and Vlade never accomplished in the Association.