Toni Kukoc was very clutch

[AirBonner]

Jackson sent in Pete Myers in place of Pippen. Myers passed the ball to Kukoc, who bounced off his man, Anthony Mason, and then sank a 22-foot shot at the buzzer to give the Bulls a stunning 104-102 victory. It was the fourth time this season that Kukoc has made a long shot to win a game at the buzzer.
That was a small blurb about his 1994 season. 4 game winners :biggums: now I know 3ball makes a big deal about MJ’s volume scoring but it was really unnecessary when you have Kerr , kukoc, and Armstrong which were all elite shooters

[Kblaze8855]

More athletic than he looked too


https://thumbs.gfycat.com/ArtisticSafeCopperbutterfly-size_restricted.gif



pretty comfortable ft line dunk.

[Kblaze8855]

Just for a laugh....Reggie thinks he wins the game:

https://thumbs.gfycat.com/WideeyedLikableGull-size_restricted.gif




He was wrong:






https://thumbs.gfycat.com/SlipperyEntireAntbear-size_restricted.gif

[1987_Lakers]

At least spell his name right.

[Roundball_Rock]

He benefited from his experience in Europe playing on teams where he was "the man." He was called the Magic Johnson of Europe. Underrated player. He, not Kerr, should be the fourth guy on the doc promos.

[trada7029]

That was a small blurb about his 1994 season. 4 game winners :biggums: now I know 3ball makes a big deal about MJ’s volume scoring but it was really unnecessary when you have Kerr , kukoc, and Armstrong which were all elite shooters

I posted the clip a long time ago because it included a whole thing about Pippen choking

But Kukoc was absolutely clutch.. he's a good argument that the mj haters should use.... if they actually watched back then and knew how clutch he was... All the big shots that Pippen was SUPPOSED to be taking and making, it was Kukoc that actually was hitting them... Okay, this is a boon to Kukoc but supports my argument about Pip - even Phil ultimately preferred Kukoc over Pip when all the money was on the line

I remember a game vs LA in I think 1997 - Kukoc single-handed brought the bulls back while MJ was a little out of sorts, behind the pace of the game and seemingly reticent to do what the moment required - start jacking threes and get hot - but fortunately Kukoc started doing it and led a Bulls' 20-point comeback victory

But again, Bron stans are so far behind that im throwing them a few bones to keep it respectable.. blowouts are no fun

[Smoke117]

Wait...so the Bulls had Pippen, Rodman, Kukoc, and the greatest 3pt shooter of all time Steve Kerr? How much help did Jordan need? :biggums:

[SouBeachTalents]

Wait...so the Bulls had Pippen, Rodman, Kukoc, and the greatest 3pt shooter of all time Steve Kerr? How much help did Jordan need? :biggums:
And Harper & Kerr :biggums:

[tpols]

He benefited from his experience in Europe playing on teams where he was "the man." He was called the Magic Johnson of Europe. Underrated player. He, not Kerr, should be the fourth guy on the doc promos.

ironically enough, didnt pippen shut his ass down in the olympics on some personal shit?

[Roundball_Rock]

ironically enough, didnt pippen shut his ass down in the olympics on some personal shit?

Yeah, Pippen and Jordan. I think they may cover that in the doc.

Fortunately, Kukoc and Pippen actually eventually got along. Kukoc was praising Pippen as a teammate in an interview when Pippen made the HOF and a reporter (I believe it was Sam Smith) reference "even Kukoc" had Pippen as his favorite teammate when talking about Pippen as a teammate on the Bulls.

[ClipperRevival]

Wow, so OP, you saying the 1993-94 Bulls added the best Euro player at the time (anyone alive during that time knows this to be true) and added Kerr? And this squad also had the confidence, chemistry and proven system of a 2 time defending champ going into that season too?

Never seen a scenario like this before where the best player on a championship winning team leaves to NOT defend the crown. Oh wait, I have. It's Kawhi leaving Toronto. How did Toronto fare? Pretty good. Like 50-55 win caliber because they also got the swag of a defending champ. But are they winning a ring without Kawhi? :yaohappy:

MJ/Kawhi leaving franchises in good hands.

[Roundball_Rock]

They Raptors went 17-5 without Kawhi last year before the playoffs so we had a good sample of them minus Kawhi even last year.

[ClipperRevival]

Wait...so the Bulls had Pippen, Rodman, Kukoc, and the greatest 3pt shooter of all time Steve Kerr? How much help did Jordan need? :biggums:

LOL. You can do better Smoke. When did Kukoc and Kerr join the Bulls? Right, the 1993-94 season. Which also coincides with Pip, Grant and BJ hitting their physical primes along with having the confidence/system of a 2 time defending champ. But yeah, it was all Pip. LOL.

[97 bulls]

Kukoc was a great player. Definitely could've made a couple of Allstar games had he played in a different scenario.

[trada7029]

ironically enough, didnt pippen shut his ass down in the olympics on some personal shit?

It was MJ actually, who had the personal shit and wanted to shut down Krause's darling

And the Pippen/MJ dynamic reminded me of Sasha and Kobe.. Kobe would hit a couple jumpers and now Sasha is like monkey-see-monkey-do and gets going... Pippen took this approach in following MJ's vendetta against Kukoc/Krause

[SATAN]

Wait...so the Bulls had Pippen, Rodman, Kukoc, and the greatest 3pt shooter of all time Steve Kerr? How much help did Jordan need? :biggums:

You forgot these other all star caliber players:

https://www.tcdb.com/Images/Cards/Basketball/2239/2239-2Fr.jpg
https://basketball.rcsportscards.com/uploads/6/0/8/7/6087117/s435214573511300858_p478_i1_w750.jpeg

[trada7029]

Kukoc was a great player. Definitely could've made a couple of Allstar games had he played in a different scenario.

Actually, the "Pippen" slot in the triangle simply yielded about 18/6 no matter who was in there - Kukoc achieved this in 99' after pip left

[Smoke117]

LOL. You can do better Smoke. When did Kukoc and Kerr join the Bulls? Right, the 1993-94 season. Which also coincides with Pip, Grant and BJ hitting their physical primes along with having the confidence/system of a 2 time defending champ. But yeah, it was all Pip. LOL.

You were right he did join in 94. For some reason I can't remember him being there that season. What are you even trying to say? We all know you're a Jordan stan, but that makes Pippen not great? He was, at worst, a top 5 player in the league in 94. He was an MVP candidate and a top 10 defensive player in the league. He had the 2nd highest bpm in the league after David Robinson with a 7.7. The team went 4-6 when he missed 10 games. Grant was a solid impactful player. I have nothing bad to say about him, but going on about BJ is just hilarious. He was nothing special at all. Why is it so hard for you Jordan stans to give Pippen any kind of credit? Nobody is saying he's not the GOAT anymore. Pippen is regularly put in the top 30 players of all time, but you'd think he was someone like Clifford Robinson the way you fanboys go on.

[97 bulls]

You were right he did join in 94. For some reason I can't remember him being there that season. What are you even trying to say? We all know you're a Jordan stan, but that makes Pippen not great? He was, at worst, a top 5 player in the league in 94. He was an MVP candidate and a top 10 defensive player in the league. He had the 2nd highest bpm in the league after David Robinson with a 7.7. The team went 4-6 when he missed 10 games. Grant was a solid impactful player. I have nothing bad to say about him, but going on about BJ is just hilarious. He was nothing special at all. Why is it so hard for you Jordan stans to give Pippen any kind of credit? Nobody is saying he's not the GOAT anymore. Pippen is regularly put in the top 30 players of all time, but you'd think he was someone like Clifford Robinson the way you fanboys go on.

Great post. The other moron called him a taller Mo Williams

[ClipperRevival]

You were right he did join in 94. For some reason I can't remember him being there that season. What are you even trying to say? We all know you're a Jordan stan, but that makes Pippen not great? He was, at worst, a top 5 player in the league in 94. He was an MVP candidate and a top 10 defensive player in the league. He had the 2nd highest bpm in the league after David Robinson with a 7.7. The team went 4-6 when he missed 10 games. Grant was a solid impactful player. I have nothing bad to say about him, but going on about BJ is just hilarious. He was nothing special at all. Why is it so hard for you Jordan stans to give Pippen any kind of credit? Nobody is saying he's not the GOAT anymore. Pippen is regularly put in the top 30 players of all time, but you'd think he was someone like Clifford Robinson the way you fanboys go on.

Brah, you didn't know Kukoc joined the Bulls in 1993-94 until now? Really?

Pip was great, no doubt. The type of guy who, if you look at the stats, doesn't do him justice because he was a GOAT tier defender and filled so many holes but damn, dude gets overrated as hell right now. Like people saying he was the 2nd best player in the world during that time? We all know that is revisionist history. When you got Hakeem, Chuck, DRob, Shaq, Malone, Ewing, Drex, Penny, Hill, etc. all in the league?

My biggest issue with Pip is that some people say he was THIS close to winning a chip without MJ. It's just not true. Huge difference between a solid 50-55 win team vs a 3 peat dynastic team. Also, he had some rare situations which helped his cause, which i mentioned.

[Smoke117]

Brah, you didn't know Kukoc joined the Bulls in 1993-94 until now? Really?

Pip was great, no doubt. The type of guy who, if you look at the stats, doesn't do him justice because he was a GOAT tier defender and filled so many holes But damn, dude gets overrated as hell right now. Like people saying he was the 2nd best player in the world during that time? We all know that is revisionist history. When you got Hakeem, Chuck, DRob, Shaq, Malone, Ewing, Drex, Penny, Hill, etc. all in the league?

My biggest issue with Pip is that some people say he was THIS close to winning a chip without MJ. It's just not true. Huge difference between a solid 50-55 win team vs a 3 peat dynastic team. Also, he had some rare situations which helped his cause, which i mentioned.

I was talking about Kerr. Jesus christ, try and pay attention.

[ClipperRevival]

I was talking about Kerr. Jesus christ, try and pay attention.

Didn't specify babyboi. :yaohappy:

[ClipperRevival]

Great post. The other moron called him a taller Mo Williams

Yeah, 3ball definitely goes overboard. Like comparing Mo to Pip is a joke. 3ball spits much more facts than BS but when he goes there? Yeah, MJ fam cringes sometimes. :oldlol:

[97 bulls]

Yeah, 3ball definitely goes overboard. Like comparing Mo to Pip is a joke. 3ball spits much more facts than BS but when he goes there? Yeah, MJ fam cringes sometimes. :oldlol:

It's not his facts. It's the conclusions he draws from those Facts.

For instance, the 96 Orlando Magic lost in the ECF. So they are career losers. That's 3balls kind of reasoning.

[Smoke117]

It's not his facts. It's the conclusions he draws from those Facts.

For instance, the 96 Orlando Magic lost in the ECF. So they are career losers. That's 3balls kind of reasoning.

Exactly. He takes numbers and statistics and uses them without any context or common sense. All that matters is if they make Jordan look good and someone else bad. For instance, he loves bringing up Pippen's overall numbers in the 98 finals without mentioning that he was having a great series and was getting FMVP talk when they were up 3-1 before he hurt his back.

[Roundball_Rock]

He was, at worst, a top 5 player in the league in 94. He was an MVP candidate and a top 10 defensive player in the league. He had the 2nd highest bpm in the league after David Robinson with a 7.7. The team went 4-6 when he missed 10 games.

That is one of the things that makes them insecure. Somehow, to them, MJ playing with a great player diminishes MJ's own greatness.

Armstrong, Grant, Kukoc, Kerr. These guys never mention them for the years they played with MJ. Only for 94'. :lol


Like people saying he was the 2nd best player in the world during that time? We all know that is revisionist history. When you got Hakeem, Chuck, DRob, Shaq, Malone, Ewing, Drex, Penny, Hill, etc. all in the league?

There is that sleight of hand again (do MJ stans have daily emails?): list 50 players and act like the yearly rankings of players is static for the entire era.

What we do know is the all-NBA voting at the time, which is useful for comparing forwards since they are in the same ballot. Pippen outpolled Barkley each year from 1994-1998. He was ahead of Malone 2 of 3 years of his peak (1994-1996). He was ahead of Hill until 97'. To deny these facts are what is revisionist history.


My biggest issue with Pip is that some people say he was THIS close to winning a chip without MJ. It's just not true.

Yes he was--in 2000. Does that make you insecure because MJ was not close at all without Pippen?

[Smoke117]

That is one of the things that makes them insecure. Somehow, to them, MJ playing with a great player diminishes MJ's own greatness.

Armstrong, Grant, Kukoc, Kerr. These guys never mention them for the years they played with MJ. Only for 94'. :lol



There is that sleight of hand again (do MJ stans have daily emails?): list 50 players and act like the yearly rankings of players is static for the entire era.

What we do know is the all-NBA voting at the time, which is useful for comparing forwards since they are in the same ballot. Pippen outpolled Barkley each year from 1994-1998. He was ahead of Malone 2 of 3 years of his peak (1994-1996). He was ahead of Hill until 97'. To deny these facts are what is revisionist history.



Yes he was--in 2000. Does that make you insecure because MJ was not close at all without Pippen?

The job he did in 95 might be even more impressive. People act like Jordan came back and the team all the sudden started winning...no. The Bulls had won 8 out of their last 10 games before Jordan's first game. They were already getting it together. Players had been coming in and out of the line up all year long and they had lost Grant for NOTHING. That Pippen even had that team over .500 to begin with was a huge achievement. That they finished 2nd in defense that season and he didn't get DPOY despite having probably the greatest defensive season ever by a perimeter player was a crime. Most perimeter guys who have won it didn't deserve it if were being realistic about actual impact, but Pippen actually DID deserve it and was screwed out of it because Mutombo averaged a lot of blocks. The Nuggets were only 14th in defense, too, which makes it even worse.

[Roundball_Rock]

The job he did in 95 might be even more impressive. People act like Jordan came back and the team all the sudden started winning...no. The Bulls had won 8 out of their last 10 games before Jordan's first game. They were already getting it together. Players had been coming in and out of the line up all year long and they had lost Grant for NOTHING. That Pippen even had that team over .500 to begin with was a huge achievement. That they finished 2nd in defense that season and he didn't get DPOY despite having probably the greatest defensive season ever by a perimeter player was a crime. Most perimeter guys who have won it didn't deserve it if were being realistic about actual impact, but Pippen actually DID deserve it and was screwed out of it because Mutombo averaged a lot of blocks. The Nuggets were only 14th in defense, too, which makes it even worse.

:applause:

Yeah people are shady when talking about the 95' season. They were 23-25 at the all-star break--which MJ stans will note occasionally. That means they were 11-6 after the break before MJ came back which they never mention. That is a 53 win pace (Indiana who won the division and made the ECF was a 52 win team that year). These weren't squeakers either. They were starting to win big as they got healthy and roles settled (PJ used Simpkins, Krystowiak, Blount, Kukoc to start at SF and both Myers and Harper at SG).

DPOY is a shame. It is a joke the #14 defense made it while Pippen didn't when he led Chicago to #2 despite losing both MJ and Grant. Now we have to hear all these people say "Pippen never won a DPOY!" forever.

[97 bulls]

What Pippen did in 95 was the best defensive season by a perimeter player. His not winning the DPOY Award will always be a travesty.

[Smoke117]

What Pippen did in 95 was the best defensive season by a perimeter player. His not winning the DPOY Award will always be a travesty.

What makes it even worse is they gifted it to Payton the next season when he wasn’t half the defensive player Pippen was just a season prior. The Sonics won a lot of games and he campaigned all year long so the media gave it to him. Lol I’ve said before, Pippen should have been dpoy if they give it to a perimeter player, but it was David Robinson who was obviously the dpoy in 96. Payton didn’t even have 1/4th of his impact defensively. For us of those that know basketball it’s just whatever, but casuals probably actually think Payton was the best defensive player in the league in 96 and that’s just laughable. If you go through the line I doubt he would even be top 30 by actual impact. Most of those are big men, obviously.

[Kblaze8855]

It's not his facts. It's the conclusions he draws from those Facts.

For instance, the 96 Orlando Magic lost in the ECF. So they are career losers. That's 3balls kind of reasoning.


He is probably legit...no joke...out of his mind. Hes made a little over 840 topics all attacking someone he views as an enemy of Jordan. Thats just on his main account. Obviously not counting the new one he uses or the one he used before the 3ball one. And it doesnt count deleted ones either so hes probably in the area of 1000 topics....probably 750 directly about Lebron. There arent 100 things to say about Lebron period...much less 700+ entire topics all full of the exact same points.

If if sees you mentioned with Jordan even in passing he goes to the twilight zone and returns with some outlandish bullshit to troll with. Like Steph being either a role player or out of the NBA in the 70s:


http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?477034-in-70-s-Curry-long-2-lt-close-post-2-so-curry-klay-role-player-in-70-s



He is crazy. Genuinely crazy. Its best to ignore him but the people who dont realize how deep down the rabbit hole he is try to reason with him for a while so he keeps going. I did it for the longest before I really looked into it and saw he was literally just spamming word for word the same points thousands of times no matter what was said to him. He eventually hits a point he cant hold back from spamming a bunch of duplicate topics as well so he gets banned for a while. Something is wrong with him. Normal people would not make hundreds of topics about any individual issue and enjoy repeating their every word this often. Hes pretty much scanning for keywords and copy/pasting pre made responses. Over several accounts. You cant take someone like that serious.

[MiseryCityTexas]

Not when he played for the Bucks Hawks and Sixers. Dude was trash. Kukoc was only as good as the players you surround himself with.

[Phoenix]

Not when he played for the Bucks Hawks and Sixers. Dude was trash. Kukoc was only as good as the players you surround himself with.

Yeah he pretty much faded from relevance after the Bulls run ended. I don't think he was ever good enough to be more than third option on a contender and best served a super-sub role. He could have probably dropped 20/7/7 on some 30-35 win team if given the chance. In reply to the topic though, yes he had some big shot moments on those Bulls title teams. Very much an X factor sort of player.

[Mr Feeny]

What Pippen did in 95 was the best defensive season by a perimeter player. His not winning the DPOY Award will always be a travesty.

Are you out of your mind. Jordan in 1988 and Payton in 1996 are easily better. Michael cooper had multiple seasons in which he was better defensively than 1995 Pippen.

Pippen was great defensively but I'm not even sure how someone can possibly think he deserved DPOY ahead of Hakeem and Robinson.

[Mr Feeny]

What makes it even worse is they gifted it to Payton the next season when he wasn’t half the defensive player Pippen was just a season prior. The Sonics won a lot of games and he campaigned all year long so the media gave it to him. Lol I’ve said before, Pippen should have been dpoy if they give it to a perimeter player, but it was David Robinson who was obviously the dpoy in 96. Payton didn’t even have 1/4th of his impact defensively. For us of those that know basketball it’s just whatever, but casuals probably actually think Payton was the best defensive player in the league in 96 and that’s just laughable. If you go through the line I doubt he would even be top 30 by actual impact. Most of those are big men, obviously.

You definitely didnt watch the nba in 1996. Payton was a better defensive player than Pippen was in 96.

[Manny98]

Wait...so the Bulls had Pippen, Rodman, Kukoc, and the greatest 3pt shooter of all time Steve Kerr? How much help did Jordan need? :biggums:

And Harper & Kerr :biggums:
And the greatest coach ever in Phil :biggums:

[SATAN]

he is probably legit...no joke...out of his mind. Hes made a little over 840 topics all attacking someone he views as an enemy of jordan. Thats just on his main account. Obviously not counting the new one he uses or the one he used before the 3ball one. And it doesnt count deleted ones either so hes probably in the area of 1000 topics....probably 750 directly about lebron. There arent 100 things to say about lebron period...much less 700+ entire topics all full of the exact same points.

If if sees you mentioned with jordan even in passing he goes to the twilight zone and returns with some outlandish bullshit to troll with. Like steph being either a role player or out of the nba in the 70s:


http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?477034-in-70-s-curry-long-2-lt-close-post-2-so-curry-klay-role-player-in-70-s



he is crazy. Genuinely crazy. Its best to ignore him but the people who dont realize how deep down the rabbit hole he is try to reason with him for a while so he keeps going. I did it for the longest before i really looked into it and saw he was literally just spamming word for word the same points thousands of times no matter what was said to him. He eventually hits a point he cant hold back from spamming a bunch of duplicate topics as well so he gets banned for a while. Something is wrong with him. Normal people would not make hundreds of topics about any individual issue and enjoy repeating their every word this often. Hes pretty much scanning for keywords and copy/pasting pre made responses. Over several accounts. You cant take someone like that serious.

lmao

[RogueBorg]

This is a good topic to have about Kukoc. I wonder how many know he was the 6th Man of the Year for the 72-win Bulls team. Bronstans gonna go nuts.

[Roundball_Rock]

He is probably legit...no joke...out of his mind. Hes made a little over 840 topics all attacking someone he views as an enemy of Jordan. Thats just on his main account. Obviously not counting the new one he uses or the one he used before the 3ball one.

I think while most of these "new" accounts are 3ball, one of them is Samurai Swish too (OrlandoMagic?), who got banned around the same time as 3ball.


Not when he played for the Bucks Hawks and Sixers. Dude was trash.

Kukoc didn't enter the NBA as a 21-22 year old. He was 25 as a rookie and 31 by the time he left Chicago. His subsequent decline was not surprising since 99% of players decline after age 30.


And the greatest coach ever in Phil

Plus a HOF assistant coach who invented an entire offense.

[Hawker]

Just for a laugh....Reggie thinks he wins the game:

https://thumbs.gfycat.com/WideeyedLikableGull-size_restricted.gif




He was wrong:






https://thumbs.gfycat.com/SlipperyEntireAntbear-size_restricted.gif

Thanks for that Kblaze. Just watched the youtube clip of it as well.

[RRR3]

He is probably legit...no joke...out of his mind. Hes made a little over 840 topics all attacking someone he views as an enemy of Jordan. Thats just on his main account. Obviously not counting the new one he uses or the one he used before the 3ball one. And it doesnt count deleted ones either so hes probably in the area of 1000 topics....probably 750 directly about Lebron. There arent 100 things to say about Lebron period...much less 700+ entire topics all full of the exact same points.

If if sees you mentioned with Jordan even in passing he goes to the twilight zone and returns with some outlandish bullshit to troll with. Like Steph being either a role player or out of the NBA in the 70s:


http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?477034-in-70-s-Curry-long-2-lt-close-post-2-so-curry-klay-role-player-in-70-s



He is crazy. Genuinely crazy. Its best to ignore him but the people who dont realize how deep down the rabbit hole he is try to reason with him for a while so he keeps going. I did it for the longest before I really looked into it and saw he was literally just spamming word for word the same points thousands of times no matter what was said to him. He eventually hits a point he cant hold back from spamming a bunch of duplicate topics as well so he gets banned for a while. Something is wrong with him. Normal people would not make hundreds of topics about any individual issue and enjoy repeating their every word this often. Hes pretty much scanning for keywords and copy/pasting pre made responses. Over several accounts. You cant take someone like that serious.
Wait he had an account before 3ball? Who?

[bullettooth]

Kukoc was a great player. Definitely could've made a couple of Allstar games had he played in a different scenario.

He'd be an All-Star today in the cupcake Eastern conference lol.

[Smoke117]

Are you out of your mind. Jordan in 1988 and Payton in 1996 are easily better. Michael cooper had multiple seasons in which he was better defensively than 1995 Pippen.

Pippen was great defensively but I'm not even sure how someone can possibly think he deserved DPOY ahead of Hakeem and Robinson.

If you think 96 Payton was better, much less "easily better" defensively than Pippen was in 95 you should just stop watching basketball as you clearly have no idea what is going on out there on the court. Michael Cooper having multiple seasons where he was better is also just laughable.

[97 bulls]

If you think 96 Payton was better, much less "easily better" defensively than Pippen was in 95 you should just stop watching basketball as you clearly have no idea what is going on out there on the court. Michael Cooper having multiple seasons where he was better is also just laughable.

That's why I didn't even dignify that lunacy with a response.

[dbugz]

MJ the GOAT maximizing teammates' potentials is just one of his goat talent :bowdown: