Toni Kukoc On When Dennis Rodman Ignored Him On Michael Jordan’s Hall Of Fame Induction: “I Thought You Were A Jewish Lawyer”

Toni Kukoc shares a hilarious story of how Dennis Rodman ignored him during Michael Jordan's Hall of Fame induction.

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Credit: Fadeaway World

Toni Kukoc recently spoke with the Serbian outlet ‘Sport Klub’, where he shared a hilarious story about meeting Dennis Rodman at Michael Jordan‘s Hall of Fame induction, where Rodman couldn’t recognize Kukoc.

“I have one good funny anecdote. We were at Michael Jordan’s Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. There was Jerry Reinsdorf, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, and myself. And I see he’s talking with Scottie, but with me, he’s so and so. Whatever I said to him, he responded quickly and turned around.”

Kukoc would then confront Rodman about the lukewarm conversation, 

“I asked him: ‘Dennis, do you know who am I?’ And he told me, ‘To be completely honest, I’m not sure.’ Then I said, ‘Toni.’ And then Rodman said, ‘I thought you were a Jewish lawyer’, and then we all laughed.”

(Starts at 1:11:21)

Rodman’s lack of awareness in that situation is hilarious, but it’s clear he was also trying to be cautious in such a public setting and not overindulge in conversation with someone he assumed to be a non-player. 

Various members of the Bulls rosters who had won a title alongside Michael Jordan were invited to his Hall of Fame induction, as most of the players from the 3-peat teams made an appearance, including Scottie Pippen, Kukoc, and Rodman. In all the years since that 2009 induction, it seems relations between the various Bulls players have worsened, heightened by the public rivalry between Pippen and Jordan.

Kukoc and Rodman weren’t best friends, but the pair respected each other on the court during their three seasons together in Chicago. Kukoc averaged 13.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.0 assists over that spell, while Rodman averaged 5.2 points, 15.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists.


Toni Kukoc Couldn’t Party With Dennis Rodman After His First Time

Despite spending three seasons alongside one of the most notorious party animals in NBA history, Toni Kukoc could only deal with a ‘Dennis Rodman night’ only once in his career, revealing he needed 10 days to recover from just that one night.

“There were four of us out, and the first thing he ordered for a drink was 40 shots of vodka and ten beers. I asked him if there are more people coming, and he just said it’s important to keep the bar open. Everybody who was at the bar that night had free food and drinks on Rodman. It’s a special type of story, and I couldn’t keep up with him. I partied only once with him because, after that, you need a 7 to 10 days recovery period.”

Rodman’s party stories are legendary, many of which Kukoc saw play out in the Bulls locker room. None of that stopped these players from taking care of business when they needed to, as indicated by the three titles they won from 1996 to 1998.

Rodman is highly appreciated for his contributions to the Chicago Bulls, but Kukoc’s name has been forgotten at times. While he wasn’t a player whose jersey would be retired by the Bulls, he’s a legend and was inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor earlier this season.

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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