Chicago Bulls general manager Jerry Krause seemed the only one ecstatic about selecting Croatian basketball star Toni Kukoc as their 29th overall pick in the 1990 NBA Draft. Outside Europe, no one had heard of the 6’11” forward, which prompted doubts about Krause’s choice, especially from Scottie Pippen.
Among all the Bulls players, Pip was the most vocal about Kukoc. One possible reason was that in the event Kuki donned the Bulls jersey, Scottie’s spot as the starting small forward would be in jeopardy. As such, Pippen did not mince his words when he spoke about the Croatian star.
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Scottie noted how European players had achieved little to no success in the NBA. Back then, Vlade Divac, Detlef Schrempf, and Drazen Petrovic were well-known European ballers. They were good studs but were not considered superstars.
“None of those (European players) came in and dominated this league,” said Pippen in 1991, per the Los Angeles Times. “They say this guy is supposed to be totally different, but they say the same thing every time one of the guys comes over. If he comes over and deserves all the publicity, it’s a great job on the front office’s part. But if not, then they have to eat their words.”
Shutting Kukoc down
The Arkansas native wasn’t the type who was all talk. He also backed up his words, particularly in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. In a game against Croatia, the Bulls forward stepped up to defend Toni. He limited Kukoc to just four points on 2-of-11 shooting with seven turnovers.
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Scottie broke down his stellar defensive effort on the unknowing Croatian. He and Michael Jordan took turns abusing Kukoc and admitted their motivation for turning into defensive beasts was Krause.
“I didn’t want him to score,” said Pippen. “I was definitely trying to shut him out in the first half, but he got that cheap one right at the end. Was he intimidated? I don’t know anything about him. I don’t know how he normally looks, so I couldn’t tell you.”
“I can’t put Krause out on the court,” said Pippen, and then he laughed. “Now they can see he’s not ready for NBA competition.”
The shot and the money
Tempers inevitably flared when Kukoc finally joined the Bulls in the 1993-94 season. In the Bulls’ final offensive possession in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals, head coach Phil Jackson drew up a play for Toni.
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This angered Pip, who believed that the Bulls were his team, with Michael Jordan being retired at the time. Even though “The White Magic” drained the game-winner, the experience forever burned in Pip’s heart. In his autobiography “Unguarded,” the seven-time All-Star shared that he felt disrespected by the Bulls organization.
“I wasn’t thrilled, however, with another move the Bulls made, which was signing Toni to a new deal for $26 million over six years, the largest in the history of the franchise,” he wrote. “It figured. They leave me underpaid year after year, then hand Toni a fortune. First the last shot, and now this.”
“There was one person I was angry with: Phil Jackson,” Pippen continued. “Michael Jordan was gone. This was my team now, my chance to be the hero, and Phil was giving that chance to Toni Kukoc. Are you serious? Toni was a rookie with no rings. I was in my seventh year with three rings. And, by the way, in the MVP race that season.”
Behind Pippen’s six rings is a troubled relationship with the Bulls’ front office. It’s nothing short of a miracle how the forward managed to focus despite a heated feud with Krause. This is why many regard him as one of the most unselfish and underrated players in the game.