CROATIAN SENSATION.
Dosta govori.
Cinjenica je da je Toni imao mnogo teze u Americi od svih posljen njega. Ameri jos nisu bili spremni prihvatit cinjenicu da ljudi iz europe mozeju igrati kosarku. to je bilo 1992. mislim da bi mnogi na tonijem mjesto u bullsima propali jer je pritisak od svih strana bio ogroman.
pippen nikada nije trpio kukija zbog para i one situacije protiv knicksa. mj debeli friend pippena takoder. nikada nisam shvatio sto je jackson toliko galamio na kukija? a sam ga je nasvao vice puta x-factorom. mediji uvijek kao kuki da nesto zna u napadu ali nema obranu. sto je djelomicno tocno. toni voli igrat i igra obranu samo kad je vazno. sve u svemu toni je unatoc svemu dobio 3 prstena. zaredeni na terenu, a ne na klupi.
evo super clanak od dosta poznatog sam smitha za chicago tribune
N THE NBA
Seeking an antidote for Marbury
Former Bull Kukoc's views uplifting after Knick's childishness
Sam Smith
Published March 20, 2006
He doesn't play as much as he'd like, and he knows he can contribute. But it's all about what's best for the team and what's best for the game. What a unique thought, eh, Stephon Marbury?
No one is going to or should compare Toni Kukoc to Marbury, the angry Knicks guard whose spectacle with coach Larry Brown last week was contemptible and an embarrassment to the NBA.
In summary, Marbury said Brown's way of coaching is not working.
"I think the people in New York want to know what he's going to do as far as us winning. What happened in the past is in the past," Marbury said, adding he thought Brown was showing "insecurities." That was in response to Brown saying, "I never left any team in worse shape than I got it. Think about me, and think about the guy who's talking."
Everyone in the NBA was appalled by the puerile scene, so I thought about talking to one of the true pros of the game, Kukoc. Some would point to Drazen Petrovic, but Kukoc probably was the first big European figure to make an impact on the NBA. He was recruited heavily by the Bulls in 1991 and went on to become an NBA Sixth Man winner and a key player on three championship teams.
Kukoc, 37, is playing less than he ever has for the Bucks. He was scoreless in one brief appearance this month and had just bit parts in seven games last month.
"I know there will come a day when I have to say goodbye to basketball," Kukoc says. "But I don't feel that way yet. I still feel I can play 15 to 20 minutes every once in a while and help a team."
But he isn't about to complain. Actually, despite the perception, most in the NBA don't.
"My thing is always the team you play for, trying to make the best of it," Kukoc says. "You don't go out and say, `I want to be traded, I'm not playing.' That shows no loyalty at all. What is the point of that?"
This is the 13th season for Kukoc, the Bucks being his fourth stop, and more than ever Kukoc appreciates Chicago. He said he has learned that the Bulls, and especially coach Phil Jackson, understood what it takes to be successful.
"For some reason, we had everything going toward one goal," Kukoc says. "I've played with a few teams where everybody doesn't have the same idea of how things are supposed to be done, helping each other on the court, liking each other off the court. I have not seen that often. In Europe, my home team had that and then when I went to the NBA, we had that. So for me, it seemed normal. It's not that it is bad guys, but they all have their idea of how it is to be done and they're not willing to give in.
"My eyes were opened once I left Chicago. You then understand why Phil wanted mature players. It's more important guys know the game than being athletic. You've got to have some athleticism, but a knowledge of the game is more important. It's more important than even talent. You've got to have talented individuals, but you have to have five guys willing to work with each other with guys coming off the bench to work with each other. Basketball is more team oriented than soccer, hockey. That's who wins the championships.
"Look at San Antonio and Detroit. Detroit, they have a good point guard, but you can name five better. But [Chauncey] Billups is great for that team. Rasheed Wallace, Rip Hamilton, Ben Wallace, Tayshaun Prince, you can say for all their positions there are better guys, but with each other they make a perfect team. That's why they win games."
Everyone quotes Marbury. But they should listen to Kukoc.
[uredio adrian]