Chicago Bulls: Toni Kukoc and Michael Jordan share one love; golfing

Former Chicago Bulls forward Toni Kukoc was a three-time NBA Champion and one of the better sixth men in franchise history.

One of the top sixth men to ever do it for the Chicago Bulls is the Croatian skilled forward Toni Kukoc. Helping former Bulls all-time great shooting guard Michael Jordan reach the ultimate goal with three NBA Championships in the mid-to-late 1990’s, Kukoc definitely didn’t get the recognition and respect he deserved back in the day.

While Jordan was a clear choice for near-immediate Hall-of-Fame induction right after he retired the final time from his playing days with the Washington Wizards, Kukoc has not received the nod yet. Although, Kukoc was on the ballet the last few years.

This year’s Hall-of-Fame induction class was highlighted by Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant, Minnesota Timberwolves/Boston Celtics/Brooklyn Nets power forward Kevin Garnett, and San Antonio Spurs power forward Tim Duncan. The 2020 Hall-of-Fame induction class was truly special.

However, maybe Kukoc can get worked in at some point in the next couple years. Kukoc did open up on his thoughts on getting passed up for Hall-of-Fame yet again in a piece with Eurohoops earlier this week. Here’s what this piece outlined from Kukoc.

"“Honestly, it means a lot more to me that I played alongside Michael Jordan and won NBA titles,” Kukoc said in an interview with Croatian website tportal. “I have no influence in my induction into the Hall of Fame. People are asked to decide and I’d really like to know who these people are. It’s allegedly unknown who they are because they haven’t been presented publicly. I really don’t know whether or not I’ll ever enter the Hall of Fame. Would I like it? Of course, I would! Well, another year has passed but nothing happened.”"

Another interesting point outlined in this article was what MJ and Kukoc share in common even up to this day. MJ is a known avid golfer, and apparently Kukoc is too. Here’s what Kukoc had to say on that common interest with MJ.

"The former three-time champion with the Chicago Bulls said that he prefers to shift his attention to a passion that shares with former teammate Michael Jordan: Golfing.“After all, what am I going to say about myself? But if my former coaches, former teammates, and basketball experts say I am one of the top 3-4 European players of all time, what are we talking about? Maybe they all don’t know what they’re talking about? It doesn’t make sense to talk about that any more… You know, I would rather spend that energy playing an 18-hole golf course.”"

It’s cool to hear about those common interests from two of the most recognizable players in Bulls franchise history, especially with the basketball world getting placed on pause at the moment due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Kukoc and MJ are able to bring back fond memories of more successful times on the hardwood for Bulls fans.

Kukoc was a three-time NBA Champion with the Bulls in the late 1990’s. He was also a member of the 1993-94 All-Rookie Second-Team and the 1995-96 Sixth Man of the Year award winner. It doesn’t look like his chances are too good, though, to get inducted into the Hall-of-Fame as his indicator (per Basketball Reference) gives him just a 0.5 percent probability of induction.