Toni Kukoc helped the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls be nearly unbeatable during the regular season and dominant throughout the playoffs. However, even that wasn’t enough for the Croatian to make his first NBA All-Star Game.
72-10
The Bulls, led by Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman, ultimately won the NBA Championship in 1996, cementing the team’s legacy as one of the greatest ever. The Bulls went 72-10 in the regular season, and Kukoc’s sacrifice had a lot to do with their historic run.
Kukoc started 55 games in the 1994-95 season, but having Jordan back for a full season, and the addition of Rodman, meant he would have to come off the bench. Being the Bulls’ Sixth Man wasn’t a role Kukoc liked initially. The talented forward made it known that he preferred to be a starter, but he embraced the opportunity to make an impact off the bench over time.
“Phil always said it wasn’t important who started the game, it was important who played that last quarter,” Kukoc said. “Especially in some of those important games, I played a lot in the fourth quarter. I realized that coming off the bench was actually a good thing, even though I wouldn’t likely become an All-Star doing it. I may not have always played 30 minutes a game, but at the same time, I would never have traded an All-Star appearance for a championship.”
Kukoc’s sacrifice
Kukoc was named the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year in 1996 after averaging 13.1 points, 4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 26 minutes over 81 games. He made a strong case to be named an NBA-All Star.
The Bulls were the best team in the league, but only Jordan and Pippen made it to the All-Star game. A team as dominant as the Bulls could have had three players representing them, and Kukoc’s stats were incredible based on the number of minutes he played. Unfortunately, it wasn’t in the cards for him.
The Bulls also won the NBA championship in 1997 and 1998, with Kukoc as their Sixth Man. Their dynasty ended after that, as Jordan, Pippen, Rodman, and most of the team left, and Kukoc didn’t get an All-Star nod in 1999 either.
In 1998-99, his last season with the Bulls, Kukoc led the team with 18.8 points, 7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists in 37.6 minutes over 44 games. A trip to the All-Star game would have been fitting that year, but the league canceled the event due to the NBA lockout.
But the fact remains, Kukoc should’ve been an NBA All-Star when the Bulls won 72 games in 1996.
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