--DRES
MOZETE NARUCITI U ZUTOJ ILI CRNOJ BOJI
--KADA GA KUPITE SAMO
NAVEDITE VELICINU U KOJOJ BISTE ZELELI DRES. POGLEDAJTE DOLE VELICINE…
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Toni Kukoč
Toni Kukoč ( born September 18, 1968) is a retired Croatian professional basketball player. Kukoč was renowned for his versatility and passing ability;
although his natural position was small forward, he
played all five positions on the court with prowess and demonstrated court vision and an outside
shooting touch that were seldom found in players of his height. After a highly
successful period in European basketball, Kukoč was one of the first
established European stars to
Kukoč grew up in Split,
Croatia. His father loved sports, having played soccer as goalkeeper in a lower rank local club. Possessing excellent motor skills,
young Toni grew up participating in different sports, including table tennis and soccer. He especially excelled in table tennis as an adolescent,
winning different youth category titles.[1] He soon switched to basketball.
Kukoč started playing for
his home town club, Jugoplastika
Split, at the age of 17. He achieved significant success during his
time at the club, winning the prestigious Euroleague with
the team three years in a row (1989–1991). His team won the Triple Crown in 1990 and 1991.[2] Kukoč
was awarded as the Euroleague Final
Four MVP both times.
Afterwards,
he played for Benetton Treviso and won the Italian
Championship in 1992
and Italian Cup in 1993. He also played in the European
Championship final in
1993, winning the Euroleague Final
Four MVP once again.
He was nicknamed "the White Magic," "the Spider from
Split," "the Pink Panther," "the Waiter," and
"the Croatian Sensation."[3] Throughout
the 1990s, he won several European
Basketball Player of the Year Awards.
Having been drafted by the
NBA's Chicago Bulls in 1990, he continued to play in
Europe, until finally reporting to the Bulls in1993,
when the team had just finished its first three-peat and had lost Michael Jordan to retirement. Toni made his NBA debut
on November 5, 1993.[4] Kukoč
was disappointed that he could not play with Jordan, although Jordan returned
to the Bulls in March 1995.
The
6'11" (2.11 m) Kukoč came off the bench in 1993–94 behind small forward Scottie Pippen and power forward Horace Grant, though Kukoč could play shooting
guard and center as well. Kukoč put up a solid rookie campaign, averaging double-digit
scoring and
On
May 13, 1994, at the end of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the
Bulls and the New York Knicks were tied at 102 with 1.8 seconds
left. Bulls coach Phil Jackson designed
the last play for rookie Kukoč, with Scottie Pippen charged with inbounding the
basketball. Pippen was so angered by Jackson's decision to not let him take the
potential game-winner that he refused to leave the bench and re-enter the game
when the timeout was over. Kukoč did hit the game-winner, a 23-foot fadeaway
jumper at the buzzer, though the Bulls eventually lost the series in 7.
After
Grant left in the offseason, Kukoč moved into the starting lineup and finished
the 1994–95 season second on the Bulls in scoring,
rebounds and assists behind Pippen.
In
the 1995–96 season,
Michael Jordan had returned, and the Bulls had acquired an exceptional
rebounder, Dennis Rodman, in the offseason. With Pippen
still at small forward, coach Phil Jackson saw
it best to have Kukoč continue to be a bench player. Kukoč was third on the
team in scoring (behind Jordan and Pippen) and was rewarded for his efforts
with the NBA Sixth Man of
the Year Award. He also assisted the Bulls to a 25-game turnaround
and the best record in league history at 72–10, as well as the fourth
championship in team history. Kukoč is currently the last player to win the NBA Sixth Man of
the Year Award and the
NBA title in the same year.
In
1997 and 1998, Kukoč again came off the bench as sixth man as the Bulls won
their fifth and sixth NBA titles. Once again, he was the team's third-leading
scorer.
In
early 1999, the team was broken up, and Kukoč was one of the only players from
their championship years that the Bulls retained. In the lockout-shortened 1998-99 season,
he led the team in scoring, rebounding, and assists. During the 1999–2000 season as Chicago continued their rebuilding
scheme, Kukoč was traded to the Philadelphia
76ers for whom he
played briefly before he was soon traded again to the Atlanta Hawks. After a short stint with the
Hawks, he finally found himself in a more suitable fit with the Milwaukee Bucks via a third trade.
On September 12, 2006,
Kukoč announced that he would retire from professional basketball if he could
not be signed by either the Milwaukee Bucks or the Chicago Bulls for the2006–07
NBA season. Although various NBA teams had shown interest in
his services, Kukoč expressed a desire to be close to his residence in the town
of Highland Park,Illinois.[5]
He was on the teams
that won the FIBA World Junior Championship (1987 for Yugoslavia), two Olympic silver medals (1988 for Yugoslavia and 1992 for Croatia), and the FIBA World Championship (1990 for Yugoslavia), in which he was selected the tournament MVP.
He and his wife Renata
purchased their Highland Park home just after arriving in Chicago in 1993.
After undergoing hip replacement surgery in 2009, he now plays at least one
round of golf daily, and won Croatia's national amateur championship in 2011.[7] His son, Marin, played for Highland Park High School's varsity
basketball team, then enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania.[8][9] His daughter, Stela, plays volleyball.
Toni Kukoč
U svojoj karijeri je
osvojio europske naslove u klupskoj košarci, naslove svjetskog prvaka, dvije
olimpijske medalje te naslove prvaka NBA profesionalne košarkaške lige. Iako
poznat po tome da je u momčadi mogao igrati na bilo kojoj poziciji (uz visinu
211 cm), ipak je uglavnom igrao kao krilo.
Kao
član reprezentacije 1992.
godine dobitnik je Državne nagrade
za šport "Franjo Bučar".
Toni Kukoč karijeru je
počeo u Jugoplastici, Split, s kojom je momčadi čak tri puta za redom osvajao
naslove europskih prvaka. Kasnije je prešao u momčad Benetton iz Trevisa, gdje je tri puta proglašavan najboljim igračem Europe. U tom periodu je na reprezentativnom planu
osvajao FIBA Svjetsko juniorsko prvenstvo (1987. za Jugoslaviju), FIBA Svjetsko prvenstvo (1990g. za Jugoslaviju), te dvije olimpijske srebrne medalje: 1988. u Seoulu za Jugoslaviju te 1992. u Barceloni za Hrvatsku.
U sjeverno-američku
profesionalnu ligu NBA Kukoč je izabran od strane momčadi Chicago Bulls još 1990.
godine,
Već
u sezoni 1994-95, nakon odlaska Granta, Kukoč postaje standardni član početne
petorke. Te je sezone drugi strijelac, drugi skakač i drugi asistent momčadi,
iza Pippena.
U
sezoni 1995-96 na parket se vratio Jordan, a Bullsi su dobili i centra Dennis Rodmana. Kukoč se ponovno vraća na
klupu, gdje briljira kao šesti igrač slijedeće tri sezone, u kojima Bullsi
osvajaju nova tri naslova prvaka NBA. Kukoč je cijelo to vrijeme bio trećim
strijelcem momčadi (iza Jordana i Pippena) a proglašen je i najboljim šestim
igračem NBA.
Nakon
odlaska Jordana i Pippena 1999,
momčad je bila u preustroju. Kukoč je te sezone bio prvi strijelac, skakač i
asistent Bullsa. Ipak, bilo je jasno da je vrijeme slavne momčadi prošlo, te je
Kukoč zamijenjen u Philadelphia
76ers, gdje je nakon kratkog vremena ponovno zamijenjen, ovaj put u Atlanta Hawkse. Niti ondje nije ostao dugo,
konačno je stigao u Milwaukee Buckse gdje je igrao s solidnim učinkom sve
do sezone 2005-06.
U rujnu 2006. Kukoč je objavio da nije našao zadovoljavajući
angažman u nekoj od momčadi koje je tražio (
·
1985. godina
·
Kadetski prvak Europe sa Jugoslavijom. U finalu poražena
Španjolska.
·
Juniorski prvak Jugoslavije sa Jugoplastikom.
·
Tadašnji trener Jugoplastike Krešo Čosić ukazuje na talent
mladog Tonija Kukoča, iz tog doba datira Krešina izjava: Odlazim uvjeren u blistavu budućnost vašeg kluba. Imate zlato
među klincima. Imate novog, ako ne i
jačeg igrača od Dražena Petrovića. Tada je
Krešo poveo grupu ljudi u dvoranu i prstom pokazao na Tonija Kukoča.
·
1986. godina
·
Juniorski prvak Europe s Jugoslavijom. Jugoslavija - SSSR
111:87, Kukoč je proglašen za MVP prvenstva.
·
Juniorski prvak Jugoslavije sa Jugoplastikom.
·
Uveden u seniorski sastav Jugoplastike.
·
1987. godina
·
Juniorski prvak Svijeta sa Jugoslavijom. Jugoslavija - Sad
110:95, U prvoj utakmici protiv SAD-a na tom turniru ubacuje 37 poena,
šutiravši za tri 11/12. I na tom turniru proglašen je za MVP.
·
Pozvan u seniosku reprezentaciju Jugoslavije s kojom osvaja broncu
na europskom prvenstvu.
·
1988. godina
·
Prvak Jugoslavije s Jugoplastikom. Jugoplastika - Partizan 2:1.
Split: 101:79, Beograd: 80:86, Split: 88:67
·
OI u Seoulu, s Jugoslavijom osvaja srebrnu medalju.
·
1989. godina
·
Prvak Jugoslavije s Jugoplastikom. Jugoplastika - Partizan 2:0.
Beograd: 74:73, Split: 75:70
·
Prvak Europe s Jugoplastikom. Munchen: Jugoplastika - Maccabi
75:69
·
Prvak Europe s Jugoslavijom. Zagreb: Jugoslavija - Grčka 98:77
·
U Rimu na McDonald's turniru s Jugoplastikom osvaja drugo
mjesto. Poraženi su samo od Denver Nuggetsa 135:129.
·
Najbolji sportaš Jugoslavije.
·
1990. godina
·
Prvak Jugoslavije s Jugoplastikom. Jugoplastika - Crvena Zvezda
3:1. Split: 98:70, Beograd: 67:69, Beograd: 93:63, Split: 113:89
·
Pobjednik Kupa Jugoslavije s Jugoplastikom.
Dubrovnik:Jugoplastika - Crvena Zvezda 79:77.
·
Prvak Europe s Jugoplastikom. Zaragoza: Jugoplastika - Barcelona
72:67. Proglašen za MVP Final Foura Eurolige.
·
U Barceloni na McDonald's turniru s Jugoplastikom (Pop 84)
osvaja drugo mjesto. Poraženi su samo od New York Knicksa 117:101. Na tom
turniru ima prosjek od 20.5 koševa, 8 skokova i nevjerovatnih 14.5
asistencija!!!
·
Prvak Svijeta s Jugoslavijom u Buenos Airesu. U finalu poražene
SAD. Proglašen za MVP turnira.
·
Na NBA draftu izabran od Chicago Bullsa kao 29. pick.
·
Najbolji europski košarkaš po izboru La Gazzete delo sport.
·
Najbolji sportaš Jugoslavije.
·
1991. godina
·
Prvak Jugoslavije s Jugoplastikom (Pop 84). Pop 84 - Partizan
3:0. Split: 85:74, Beograd: 95:91, Beograd: 86:64
·
Pobjednik Kupa Jugoslavije s Jugoplastikom (Pop 84). Rijeka: Pop
84 - Cibona 70:69.
·
Prvak Europe s Jugoplastikom (Pop 84). Pariz: Jugoplastika -
Barcelona 70:65. Drugi put zaredom proglašen za MVP Final Foura Eurolige.
·
Prvak Europe s Jugoslavijom. Rim: Jugoslavija - Italija 88:73.
·
Najbolji europski košarkaš po izboru La Gazzete delo sport.
·
Toni prelazi u Benetton
·
1992. godina
·
Prvak Italije s Benettonom (Prvi klupski naslov u povjesti tog
kluba).
·
OI Barcelona: Srebrna medalja sa Hrvatskom. U finalu poraženi od
Dream Teama.
·
1993. godina
·
Pobjednik Kupa Italije s Benettonom.
·
Viceprvak Europe s Benettonom. Atena: Benetton - Limoges 55:59.
Na tom turniru je Toni po treći put proglašen za MVP Final Foura Eurolige i
tako ostao zapisan u povijesti kao jedini kojem je to uspjelo tri puta i kao
jedini MVP iz redova poraženog finaliste.
·
Napušta Europu i odlazi u NBA. Chicago Bullsi su njegova nova
ekipa.
·
1994. godina
·
Prva sezona u Bullsima. U 75 utakmica, u prosjeku je igrao 24.1
minutu, uz 10.9 poena, 4 skoka i 3.4 asistencije.
·
Uvršten u drugu rookie petorku NBA lige.
·
Prvi triple-double (14 poena, 10 skokova, 11 asistencija) u
karijeri u utakmici protiv Boston Celticsa.
·
Na svjetskom prvenstvu u Kanadi sa Hrvatskom osvaja broncu. U
polufinalu Hrvatska je s 2 koša razlike poražena od Rusa.
·
Najbolji europski košarkaš po izboru La Gazzete delo sport.
·
1995. godina
·
Druga sezona u Bullsima. U 81 utakmici, u prosjeku igra 31.9
minuta, uz 15.7 poena, 5.4 skoka i 4.6 asistencija.
·
Osvaja broncu sa Hrvatskom na europskom prvenstvu u Grčkoj.
·
1996. godina
·
Treća sezona u Bullsima. U 81 utakmici, u prosjeku igra 26
minuta, uz 13.1 poen, 4 skoka i 3.5 asistencije.
·
Osvaja prvi NBA prsten s Chicago Bullsima.
·
Proglašen najboljim šestim igračem NBA lige.
·
Najbolji europski košarkaš po izboru La Gazzete delo sport.
·
1997. godina
·
Četvrta sezona u Bullsima. U 57 utakmica, u prosjeku igra 28.2
minute, uz 13.2 poena, 4.6 skokva i 4.5 asistencije.
·
Osvaja drugi NBA prsten s Chicago Bullsima.
·
Pobjednik Mcdonald's turnira s Chicago Bullsima.
·
1998. godina
·
Peta sezona u Bullsima. U 74 utakmice, u prosjeku igra 30.2
minute, uz 13.3 poena, 4.4 skoka i 4.2 asistencije.
·
Osvaja treći NBA prsten s Chicago Bullsima.
·
Najbolji europski košarkaš po izboru La Gazzete delo sport.
·
1999. godina
·
Šesta sezona u Bullsima. U 44 utakmice, u prosjeku igra 37.6
minuta, uz 18.8 poena, 7 skokova i 5.3 asistencije.
·
2000. godina
·
Započeo sezonu s Bullsima, a onda u veljači mijenjan u
Philadelphia 76erse. U 56 utakmica, u prosjeku igra 31.9 minuta, uz 14.8
koševa, 4.9 skokova i 4.7 asistencija.
·
Drugi triple-double u karijeri u utakmici protiv Indiana
Pacersa.
·
2001. godina
·
Započeo sezonu s 76ersima, a onda mijenjan u Atlanta Hawkse za
Dikembe Mutomba. u 65 utakmica, u prosjeku igra 24.6 minute, uz 11.1 poen, 4
skoka i 3.1 asistencije.
·
2002. godina
·
Druga sezona u Atlanti. U 59 utakmica, u prosjeku igra 25.3
minute, uz 9.9 poena, 3.7 skokova i 3.6 asistencija.
·
2003. godina
·
Iz Atalante mijenjan u Milwaukee Buckse za Shareef Abdur-Rheema.
·
Prva sezona u Bucksima. U 63 utakmice, u prosjeku igra 27.0
minuta, uz 11.6 poena, 4.2 skoka i 3.6 asistencija.
·
2004. godina
·
Druga sezona u Bucksima. U 73 utakmice, u prosjeku igra 20.8
minuta, uz 8.4 poena, 3.7 skokova i 2.7 asistencija.
·
2005. godina
·
Treća sezona u Bucksima. U 53 utakmice, u prosjeku igra 20.7
minuta, uz 5.6 poena, 3 skoka i 3 asistencije.
·
2006. godina
·
Četvrta sezona u Bucksima. U 65 utakmica, u prosjeku igra 15.7
minuta, uz 2.3 poena, 2.3 skokova i 2.1 asistencija.
·
Nakon duge i uspješne košarkaške karijere najtrofejniji hrvatski
košarkaš i jedan od najvećih europskih košarkaša svih vremena, odlučio je
objesiti patike o klin.