38 year-old Toni Kukoc will likely retire since the two teams he was willing to play for – Milwaukee and Chicago – don’t want his services…yet. Other teams are interested, but Kukoc lives in Highland Park, Illinois, and he wants to stay close to home.
Kukoc was drafted in the second round by the Bulls of 1990, coming in at #6 on Bullz-Eye’s list of the best second round picks in the last 20 years. Here’s an excerpt:
Toni Kukoc, 1990, #29 (Chicago)
Career Averages: 11.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.7 apg, .447 FG%
As a member of the Chicago Bulls, “The Waiter” helped to serve up the team’s second three-peat, winning Sixth Man of the Year honors in 1996. On a team that featured Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman, Phil Jackson asked Kukoc to spark the team off the bench and he filled the role beautifully. In each of the team’s championship seasons, Kukoc averaged more than 13 points, four rebounds and three assists per game while shooting better than 47% from the field. His career numbers aren’t mind-boggling, but he’s still playing at 37 and his minutes have declined in recent years, hurting his stats. Playing a vital role on a team that won three titles goes a long way in this league.
Bonus points for…while playing for Jugoplastika Split, winning three European titles in a row (a feat that has never been matched)…winning the title of European Player of the Year three times while playing for Benetton Treviso…having the nicknames “White Magic” and “the Croatian Sensation.”
Kukoc had a great career, but I’m not so sure it’s over just yet. The Bucks or Bulls could change their mind or he might get the itch and decide to play for a playoff contender if/when they come calling.
