The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame will induct the Class of 2021 next month. Stars from basketball’s past will be acknowledged for the contributions and the success they found in the sport. One of the inductees for this year’s class is former Chicago Bulls star Toni Kukoc.
Kukoc was part of the Chicago Bulls between 1993 to 2000 where he found the most success of his career. After his stint in Chicago, Kukoc bounced around to different NBA franchises like the 76ers, the Hawks, and the Bucks. But before his stint in the NBA, Kukoc was a very successful basketball player in Europe and played a huge part in the popularization of the sport in the continent.
Michael Jordan and Jerry Reinsdorf will serve as co-presenters for Toni Kukoc when Kukoc is inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in September, @Hoophall says.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) August 11, 2021
Kukoc will be inducted into the Hall of Fame by some familiar faces. Michael Jordan and Jerry Reinsdorf, the owner of the Chicago Bulls, will be the presenters for Toni Kukoc’s Hall of Fame induction. Jordan played with Kukoc from 1996 to 1998, and Reinsdorf was a big proponent of Kukoc and played a big part in bringing him to the Bulls.
Toni Kukoc won three NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls and even won an NBA Sixth Man Of The Year title in 1996 as well. He was a key figure in Jordan’s team and played a big part in the Bulls extending their dynasty between 1996 and 1998.
But initially, Jordan and Scottie Pippen were not fans of Toni Kukoc. As they revealed in ‘The Last Dance’ documentary, Pippen and Jordan were unhappy about the Bulls drafting Kukoc, partly due to their animosity toward then-Bulls GM Jerry Krause. And when Kukoc’s Croatia faced Jordan, Pippen, and the 1992 Dream Team in the Olympics, they tried to send Kukoc and Krause a message.
Kukoc was embarrassed and humiliated as Team USA easily defeated Croatia. When the two teams faced off once again in the Gold Medal game at the 1992 Olympics, Kukoc performed much better, but could not overcome the much-stronger Team USA.
Jordan was eventually able to make peace with Kukoc, and the two found great success together. Jordan and Reinsdorf presenting Kukoc is fitting, given how much of a role both individuals played in Kukoc’s career.
