The Yugoslav and Croatian basketball legend Toni Kukoč was born 18 September, 1968 in Split, Yugoslavia. The 211-centimeters-tall forward had one of the most illustrious careers in basketball, winning three consecutive EuroLeague Finals, as well as three NBA titles. During his career, Kukoč played for KK Split (1985-1991), Benetton Treviso (1991-1993), Chicago Bulls (1993-2000), Philadelphia 76ers (2000-2001), Atlanta Hawks (2001-2002) and Milwaukee Bucks (2002-2006).
Kukoč made his professional debut with his hometown team – KK Split in 1985/86 season, averaging 4.3 points per game in the Yugoslav League. The following season, the rising star was already one of the leading players on the roster, averaging 14.5 points per game.
He made his EuroLeague debut in 1988, instantly helping Split to become one of the leading teams on the continent. The Yugoslav team won their first EuroLeague title as Kukoč finished the season with 258 points in 18 games, averaging 14.3 points per game. The following two seasons, his performances improved as KK Split were able to achieve a three-peat, winning the title in 1990 and 1991. Kukoč was excellent in both editions, averaging 17.9 and 17.6 points per game, winning the EuroLeague Final Four MVP in both occasions, as well as the Finals MVP award in 1990.
In 1991, Kukoč moved to the Italian side – Benetton Treviso and helped them to win the Italian League title in 1992. This guaranteed another run in the EuroLeague, which turned out to be the final one for the Croatian forward before his departure to the NBA. He was one of the best scorers in the EuroLeague in 1992/93 season, finishing the season with 358 points in 17 games, averaging 21.1 points per game. His stellar performances earned Kukoč another Final Four MVP award as he helped Benetton to reach the EuroLeague Final. In a very defense-oriented game, the Italian side lost 55-59.
Kukoč played a total of 4 season in the EuroLeague, finishing his European journey with 1238 points in 70 games, averaging 17.7 points per game. He’s one of the most successful EuroLeague players of all-time. Kukoč finished Top 20 in scoring in all four of his seasons in the EuroLeague.
The versatile forward also enjoyed sucess on the international level, winning FIBA World Cup in 1990, as well as two Eurobasket editions (1989, 1991) as a member of Yugoslavia national team. In his EuroLeague, Saporta Cup, Korac Cup, and international games from 1985 to 1996, Kukoč scored 2359 points in 163 games.
ACCOLADES
EuroLeague champion (1989, 1990, 1991)
EuroLeague (1993)
EuroLeague Final Four MVP (1990, 1991, 1993) EuroLeague Finals MVP (1990)
NBA Champion (1996, 1997, 1998) Olympic Games (1988, 1992) FIBA World Cup (1990)
FIBA World Cup (1994) Eurobasket (1989, 1991) Eurobasket (1987, 1995) Yugoslav League (1988, 1989, 1990, 1991) Yugoslav League (1996) Italian League (1992) Italian League (1993)
EUROLEAGUE STATISTICS
Team
Age
21
22
23
25
GP
18
18
17
17
70
PPG
14.3
17.9
17.6
21.1
17.7
PTS
258
323
299
358
1238
RNK
19th
8th
13th
5th
FIBA SAPORTA CUP STATISTICS
Year
85/86
TOT
Team
Age
18
GP
5
5
PPG
5.4
5.4
PTS
27
27
TRK
QF
FIBA KORAC CUP STATISTICS
Year
86/87
87/88
91/92
TOT
Team
Age
19
20
24
GP
10
10
5
25
PPG
13.3
12.5
15.9
13.5
PTS
133
125
79
337
TRK
QF
QF
R16
YUGOSLAV & ITALIAN LEAGUE STATISTICS
Year
85/86
86/87
87/88
88/89
89/90
90/91
91/92
92/93
TOT
Team
Age
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
GP
19
25
26
26
26
25
38
35
220
PPG
4.3
14.5
15.5
16.9
17.8
19.9
18.9
21.3
16.9
PTS
82
363
403
439
463
497
717
746
3710
TRK
QF
OLYMPIC GAMES STATISTICS
Year
1988
1992
1996
TOT
Team
Age
20
24
28
GP
6
8
8
22
PPG
4.7
11.5
16.1
11.3
PTS
28
92
129
249
RNK
102nd
28th
8th
FIBA WORLD CUP STATISTICS
Year
1990
1994
TOT
Team
Age
22
26
GP
8
8
16
PPG
16.5
11.0
13.4
PTS
132
88
214
RNK
18th
39h
EUROBASKET STATISTICS
Year
1987
1989
1991
1995
TOT
Team
Age
19
21
23
27
GP
7
5
5
8
25
PPG
6.7
6.0
19.0
15.3
11.8
PTS
47
30
95
122
294
RNK
74th
48h
5th
16th
Description for statistics
FIBA Saporta Cup is the same competition, as FIBA European Cup Winners’ Cup, ULEB Cup or EuroCup, a 2nd-tier European Cup competition. FIBA Korac Cup is the same competition as FIBA EuroChallenge, a 3rd-tier European Cup competition. GP – Games played PPG – Points per game PTS – Total points RNK – Individual scoring ranking TRK – Team ranking
Fiero Sportivo 