Pippen Ain't Easy
Fansided

Chicago Bulls: Top 15 draft picks in franchise history

By Jason Patt

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JUNE 11: Michael Jordan #23 hugs teammate Scottie Pippen #33 of the Chicago Bulls following Game Five of the 1997 NBA Finals played against the Utah Jazz on June 11, 1997 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Chicago Bulls defeated the Utah Jazz 90-88. Ahmad Rashad tries to get an interview for NBC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1997 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JUNE 11: Michael Jordan #23 hugs teammate Scottie Pippen #33 of the Chicago Bulls following Game Five of the 1997 NBA Finals played against the Utah Jazz on June 11, 1997 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Chicago Bulls defeated the Utah Jazz 90-88. Ahmad Rashad tries to get an interview for NBC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1997 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Toni Kukoc, Chicago Bulls
(Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

6. player. 24. . . Split, Croatia. SF . Toni Kukoc

Toni Kukoc began playing basketball professionally in Europe at the age of 17. His play caught the eye of Bulls general manager Jerry Krause, who fell in love with Kukoc and picked him at the beginning of the second round in 1990 with pick No. 29.

Kukoc was under contract in Europe, so he didn’t come over to the Bulls right away. Krause angered Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen by saving salary cap space in order to bring over his prized Euro draft pick, which led to the infamous destruction of Kukoc during the 1992 Olympics.

Kukoc finally came over for the 1993-94 season, meaning he didn’t play with Jordan right off the bat. There was more drama with Pippen that year when Phil Jackson drew up a last-second play in the playoffs for Kukoc instead of Pippen, which resulted in Scottie sitting the play out as Toni drilled the game-winner:

While Kukoc got off to a bumpy start with Jordan and Pippen, the 6-foot-11 forward soon became one of the most important pieces during the Bulls’ second three-peat. He won Sixth Man of the Year on the 72-win team in 1995-96 and was the team’s third-leading scorer behind Jordan and Pippen. Kukoc is currently the last player to win NBA Sixth Man of the Year and a championship in the same season.

Kukoc was again the Bulls’ third-leading scorer for the last two titles, but what made him so good was his all-around versatility. Not only could he shoot it well from outside for a player of his size, but he could also operate as a point forward and play all five positions. He handed out 4.2 assists per game over his six-plus years in Chicago and is in the top 10 in 3-pointers, assists and steals in franchise history.

After the title run, Kukoc was one of the few key holdovers on the dreadful 1998-99 Bulls. He led the team in scoring at 18.8 points and notched career highs in rebounds and assists per game. Chicago traded Kukoc to the Atlanta Hawks the following year.

Kukoc may not have been quite as prolific in terms of production and/or accolades as some of the players behind him on this list, but he gets bonus points for winning championships and for being a second-round pick. Krause was right to be proud of identifying Kukoc’s talent early and making him an important piece of the dynasty’s core.

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