It's always nice to check in with has been retired NBA players to get their thoughts on how the game has changed since their days on the court, right? Well, maybe not, considering the fact that they rarely have anything positive to say. Toni Kukoc definitely falls into this category, ripping current players for what he views as a selfish and unintelligent style of play:
"The NBA is a league of selfish people and it is no longer a part of my life. Last year, I watched just three games of the Chicago Bulls.
"I hardly ever go to the United Center because there's little to see. It irritates me to see the poorness of the game of today and the lack of intelligence on the court."
Kukoc claimed that players are putting themselves before their teams and, by doing so, are sacrificing their chance of glory.
"There are too many selfish players in basketball nowadays. I could also have scored 30 points per game but, how many titles would I have won playing with that style?"
A couple of observations here. If Kukoc is referring to this year's incarnation of the Bulls, it's hard to blame him. Not that the team is selfish, they're just really horrible, starting the season 1-5 and losing at home last night by 30 to the Raptors. I wouldn't exactly be eager to head to the arena to watch that crap either. But what about the assertion that he could have scored 30 per game if he wanted to? I'm finding that one extremely hard to swallow.
The excellent site Basketball Reference dot com shows us not only that Kukoc's career average was a mere 11.6 points per game (topping out at 18.8 in just 44 games in '98-'99), but also shows us the other players in the league that his season statistics were the most similar to. With names like Danny Manning, Tim Thomas, and Darius Miles on the list, let's just say Kukoc comes across as nothing more than a washed-up blow hard who's more than a little full of himself.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 9)
2-01-2008 @ 12:26AM
Steve said...
He's right!
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11-11-2007 @ 1:44PM
mookie brainlock said...
I think Toni's point is pretty accurate.
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11-11-2007 @ 2:27PM
mric said...
Well those of us who followed Toni Kukoc during his career, knows that he was former Kraotia league and that he was a prolific scorer over there.It impressed the Chicago Bulls and they felt he and Jordan would be a one two punch in the scoring column. However, his numbers did not add up due to
Scottie Pippens uprising as the two of the punch. Toni Kukoc was a great scorer and passer he could have scored at least 25 a game if given enough chances to heve up the J. He was kinda weak going to the hole and he was actually intimadated by the the brothers over 6'9" and he made quite a bit of bone head mistakes due to the fear factor so Toni you were not that wise a player my friend and it takes more than selfishness to score 30 a game , you gotta
take to the hole a draw some fouls.
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11-11-2007 @ 2:11PM
hscs said...
So you're saying Toni won't be appearing on Nike's website in the near future?
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11-11-2007 @ 3:39PM
slash2o07 said...
i think its tru basketball aint wat it used 2 be
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11-11-2007 @ 5:20PM
zballref said...
Amen Kukoc. I wasn't much of a Bulls or Jordan fan in those days, but I do think that u could have put up 25 or 30 a night if given the green light to jack it up. Enjoyed watchin Pipp though. Your thoughts on todays players is right on. Difficult to sit through an NBA game nowadays.
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11-11-2007 @ 4:34PM
JKlicious99 said...
I love the NBA, but Tony is right about one thing...it has become a "me" league with a bunch of selfish players across the board. It's no wonder that teams like San Antonio, who play unselfishly, are winning titles.
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11-11-2007 @ 4:42PM
jitesh patel said...
WHAT HE SAID IS TRUE BUT WHY IS HE STILL PLAYING?? HE SHOULD HAVE RETIRED YEARS BACK LIKE AFTER 99' THOSE OLD CHICAGO DAYS ARE DEAD AND GONE AND ITS BEEN A VERY LONG TIME JUST GO AWAY TONY
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11-11-2007 @ 4:57PM
LB said...
Toni was very talented and could have scored that much if he was selfish and didn't play on a team that was trying to win a championship.
Kukoč won the Euroleague three years in a row. He played for Benetton Treviso, winning the title of European Player of the Year three times. He won the Italian Championship in 1992 and Italian Cup in 1993 and the FIBA World Championship in which he selected as the tournamnent MVP.
He won 3 titles and NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award. In 1998-99 season, he led the Bulls in scoring, rebounding, and assists.
If you put this years 6th man of the year (Barbosa) on a bad team he might average 30 also.
Brett is dumb if he thinks any of those players had anything close to the professional career of Toni. The problem is too many stat geeks are writing blogs that don't know basketball.
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11-12-2007 @ 2:48PM
Dino said...
Man, Im the biggest Toni Kukoc fan ever, I was named after one of his teammates, Dino Radja. Coming from Zagreb and following his game ever since I heard about him, I think toni is right, you dont see players like him very often, he puts his team before himself and thats very rare nowadays,
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11-11-2007 @ 6:53PM
jetcity said...
Does anyone else remember that game way back when Pippen refused to enter a game in final seconds because the last play did not have him shooting the ball and had Kukoc shooting instead. LOL..
Selfishness, it runs the NBA, Kukoc played with one of the most notorious "Me, Me" players of all time, Michael Jordan. But of course he was a winner and people push aside the selfishness as soon as he started winning championships..
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11-11-2007 @ 7:13PM
Jerry.s said...
Yeah, I agree with Toni Kukoc. The Nba is not what it used to be as far as team play. Now I believe that the sports world is highlighting too many individuals rather than congratulatibg teams for their play. There has to be consistent team effort day in and day out before teams can really become elite and smart. On the other hand many teams are not getting the opportunities to grow with certain players.
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11-11-2007 @ 8:10PM
thesby said...
toni-tony-tone koopoo is just that and a croration croc!
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11-11-2007 @ 8:46PM
Gary Mayer said...
When Tony came to the Milwaukee Bucks I saw him (live) often as well as on TV.
Tony was one of the best team-players I've seen. He was well-liked by fans and teamates. During his final season with the Bucks I felt he wasn't getting enough playing time.
I'm sure players like Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippin would agree with me regarding his professionalism and team play.
What he has to say about current players, there are some hot-dogs but what I see generally is hard-working pro athletes, especially on the Bucks; they are a close-knit team. They have to be because they don't possess the talent of the Lakers or Celtics or Spurs or Mavericks, to name a few.
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11-11-2007 @ 9:10PM
jorge luis said...
Like Kucok is stating some sort of revelation. haha. I can respect any man's opionion and he is on the nose, but he was a below average player. I would give his words more weight if his name was Walt Frazier.
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11-11-2007 @ 9:12PM
Betty said...
Toni is anything but a "washed up blow hard". What an insult to a player that was a credit to the game. And, unfortunately his comments on todays players is "right on"... I love the NBA but long for the days of old when watching a game was like watching a fine ballet... Today's game has changed and the players have changed... Put up the big numbers and expect to be paid in big numbers... Me Me Me is the only thing that is important. There is so much talent out there but most of todays players fail to realize there are five men on a team... And then they wonder why there are so many empty seats.. To Bad.
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11-11-2007 @ 11:29PM
aaorn W said...
Selfish??? Yea! Thats why the Denver Nuggest who have 2 of the MOST SELFISH in the game on their team wont win squat, being Carmello Anthony and Allen "OVERRATED" Iverson........
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11-11-2007 @ 11:48PM
George B Vieto said...
Of course the NBA is a league of glory hounds instead to good old fashioned teamwork. Toni is right that is why the Bulls won their NBA titles with teamwork and not Michael Jordan being a glory hound.
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11-12-2007 @ 3:10AM
ramon fermin said...
the stats doesn't speak volumes. toni played with two of the greatest players of the game. he is only expected to provide some extra umph on the offense and do the little things that make the team better. he is perhaps the greatest all around player that ever came out of europe. probably better than vladi divac, arvydas sabonis or andrei kirilenko. detlef, dirk, peja, tony, and mehmet donot count their game is pretty much one or two sided. the spanish dude that plays in memphis (forgot his name) could be the next kukoc with better stats but he doesn't play with mj and pippen. and yes i agree with toni on selfishnes of most of todays players only phoenix, dallas, san antonio, and utah are teams worth watching, and maybe boston or cleveland.
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11-12-2007 @ 6:26AM
Detwhite said...
Apparently the author of the article doesn't like hearing the truth. Toni was a member of the Chicago Bulls that prided itself on team-play...and it showed...to the tune of six championships. He's right...the NBA has changed...and not for the better. No longer will you see a trio like Jordan, Pippen and Kucoc...often sacrificing personal stats for the greater good. I've lost interest in the NBA...not because I don't love the game...but my lack of love for this new generation of "me" players.
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