Accompanied by Michael Jordan and Jerry Reinsdorf on the Springfield stage, Toni Kukoc delivered his Hall of Fame induction speech, as he played on the field, all in sobriety. Capable of brilliant blows and strokes of genius with the leather in his hands, Kukoc has remained very close to the text for his passage in the Pantheon of world basketball.
“He climbed onto the roof of the school and yelled: Toni, we are leading 1-0”
He spoke in particular about his youth in Split, rocked by the sporting exploits of the clubs of the city supported (fully) by his father, Ante, including his training club, Jugoplastika.
“My father was very important in instilling in me the passion for sport. He was a big fan of our soccer team [de Split]. I can tell you a story that sums it up well. My school was not far from my house and during a match, while I was in the middle of an exam, he climbed on the roof of the school and yelled: Toni, we are leading 1-0. And then rebelote: Toni, we lead 2-0! During that time, of course, the teacher had realized what was going on and to stop disturbing the exam, she sent me home. Fortunately, I passed my exam. “
Crowned European champion for the first time in 1989, Kukoc was only 21 years old at the time. It had only been six years since he had really, seriously, taken up basketball. Once again at the top of Europe for the next two years with Split, he achieved a historic treble before attempting the Italian adventure at Benetton Treviso. This will be his springboard to the NBA, without forgetting of course the Olympic adventure of Barcelona.
“It wasn’t until I was 15 that I started playing basketball”
“I started playing sports when I was 8, playing table tennis and soccer. It wasn’t until I was 15 that I started playing basketball. My career is defined by two cities: Split in Croatia, and Chicago, Illinois. (…) I would like to thank the gentleman behind me, Michael Jordan, and Scottie Pippen, for kicking my butt during the Barcelona Olympics. They motivated me to work even harder to be an important member of the Chicago Bulls. I also want to express my sincere gratitude to Jerry Reinsdorf and the late Jerry Krause for bringing me to the NBA when it really wasn’t something in common. “
Also thanking the Sixers, the Hawks and the Bucks, where he will end his NBA career and his career, Kukoc was above all a team player, as his nickname of the “server” suggested. A European pioneer in the NBA, Kukoc can be proud of his immense career spanning 21 seasons, including 12 in the NBA, and a bunch of international medals, gleaned first with Yugoslavia, then his homeland of Croatia.
“I have always favored collective successes over individual goals and now that I am here in front of you, I can confirm that I was right. I am incredibly honored to receive this award, the most important in our sport. Thank you. “
