gold star for USAHOF

10. Toni Kukoc

10. Toni Kukoc

Toni Kukoc was a superstar in Europe in 1990, playing for Jugoplastika in Croatia and winning the EuroLeague Final Four MVP award after leading his team to the EuroLeague Title. Despite those accomplishments, Chicago fans scratched their heads when the Bulls used their Second Round Pick to take him.  Two EuroLeague Titles later (the second one being with Treviso of the Italian League), Kukoc was ready to join the Bulls.

Kukoc was immediately popular with Chicago fans, and he logged heavy minutes despite usually coming off the bench.  Michael Jordan returned from his stint as a minor league baseball player, and Kukoc was a considerable part of the second three-peat dynasty (1996-98), with Kukoc winning the Sixth Man of the Year in 1995-96.  The Small Forward never had a season in Chicago where he didn't have at least 10 Points per Game, and his best season was an 18.8 PPG campaign in 1998-99, the year after Jordan retired a second time.

The Bulls were in rebuilding mode, and he was traded to Philadelphia in 2000.  As a Bull, Kukoc averaged 14.1 Points per Game with a PER of 18.6, and would enter the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021.

The Bullet Points

  • Position: Small Forward
  • Acquired: Selected in the 2nd Round, 29th Overall in the NBA Draft 6/27/90.
  • Departed: Traded to the Philadelphia 76ers as part of a three-team trade.  The Golden State Warriors traded John Starks and a 2000 1st Round Pick (which would be Chris Mihm) to Chicago.  Philadelphia traded Bruce Bowen to Chicago.  Philadelphia sent Larry Hughes and Billy Owens to Golden State. 2/16/00.
  • Games Played: 436
  • Per Game Averages: 29.5 MP
    .492 eFG%
    .748 FT%
    14.1 PTS
    4.8 RB
    4.2 AST
    1.1 STL
    0.4 BLK

    75 Playoff Games
    27.5 MP
    .493 eFG%
    .714 FT%
    10.9 PTS
    4.1 RB
    3.5 AST
    0.9 STL
    0.3 BLK     
  • Advanced Stats: 18.6 PER
    .535 TS%
    18.3 VORP
    41.2 WS

    75 Playoff Games
    16.8 PER
    .533 TS%
    3.3 VORP
    6.8 WS     
  • Played For: Chicago Bulls
  • Major Accolades and Awards: NBA Champion (1996, 1997 & 1998)
    Sixth Man of the Year (1996)
    Second Team All-Rookie (1994)
  • Other Points of Note: Top Ten Sixth Man of the Year Finishes:
    1st in 1996 & 2nd in 1997
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