Former Bulls Player Highlights How Toni Kukoc Deserves as Much Recognition as Michael Jordan & Scottie Pippen

Chicago Bulls icon Toni Kukoc was recently inducted into the Hall of Fame. The Croatian was among the best players in the league and ended up winning three titles with the Bulls. As his induction neared, many players, writers, and experts gave their take on Kukoc as a player.

Somewhat an outsider from Europe, Kukoc must have taken time to find rhythm in the USA. Bill Wellington, another player on the Bulls roster, spoke about his bond with Kukoc.

READ MORE: Were the Chicago Bulls a Wrong Move for Toni Kukoc to Begin His Career?

What did Bill Wellington have to say about Toni Kukoc?

As per Wellington, it was Kukoc who was the pillar of the Bulls team. “They always talk about Michael and Scottie but no one ever talks about Toni and Toni really was a pillar on our team.”

“They always talk about Michael and Scottie… but Toni really was a pillar on our team.”

: @34billy42 pic.twitter.com/9uCuQ5asB2

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) September 11, 2021

He had met Kukoc the year before he joined the Bulls, and the two of them had played against each other while in Italy for the Italian Championship. When Toni Kukoc arrived, both of them instantly bonded. “Both of us were new to Chicago and both of us had player overseas and we had, you know, kinship already. So it was kinda neat to come here and play with him for the first time. Both of us not really knowing how Phil was and what things were going on but it was kind of an instant bond for us.”

In the end, Wellington ended up thanking Kukoc for being selected to receive a Hall of Fame award.

From left, Dennis Rodman, Scottie Pippen, Michael Jordan, Ron Harper and Toni Kukoc were big parts of Bulls teams that won three straight NBA titles from 1996 to 1998. Jordan and Pippen were members of the first “three-peat” team, which won titles from 1991 to 1993. (Nuccio DiNuzzo/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

Sam Smith, a longtime Bulls author, had also spoken about Kukoc. As per Smith, Kukoc would have flourished as a player if any other organization had drafted him.

While they both have said some different things, Michael Jordan remains a common factor. With the Bulls, an already established roster was winning titles. Jordan’s return only won them three more. Despite that, Kukoc remains one of the best players on the team.

“If Toni Kukoc had gone to almost any team other than the Bulls… he’d be what Luka Doncic is now.”

: @SamSmithHoops pic.twitter.com/JTc1ym4S6R

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) September 10, 2021

Smith had also compared Kukoc to Dallas Mavericks icon Luka Doncic. As per Smith, if Kukoc was a part of any other team, he would have been to them what Doncic is to the Mavericks. A young star from Europe, Doncic has carried his team to the playoffs for the last two NBA seasons.

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