The most recent Hall-of-Fame inductee from the Chicago Bulls came in the class of 2021 in the former Sixth Man of the Year and three-time NBA Champion Toni Kukoc. And when the Bulls faced the Utah Jazz on the night of Oct. 30 at home at the United Center, we got to see the fan recognition get paid to Kukoc as he was inducted.
As Kukoc was inducted into the Hall-of-Fame this year, the Bulls faithful have shown him the love. And the Bulls fans at the United Center got to show that love in person as their team took on the Jazz over the weekend.
This was a cool moment for Kukoc as he got the honor that only a few great Bulls throughout franchise history have received. Kukoc got to get cheered on by the fans at the United Center after becoming one of nearly a dozen Bulls players to get inducted into the Hall-of-Fame.
Chicago Bulls fans give the love to Toni Kukoc
Toni Kukoc, wearing his Hall of Fame jacket, just addressed UC crowd at halftime. He was introduced by Artis Gilmore. Thanked organization, teammates and fans.
— Rob Schaefer (@rob_schaef) October 31, 2021
Kukoc: "Split, Croatia is my hometown, but Chicago is my heart and my home."
Kukoc was “wearing his Hall of Fame jacket” and did talk to the crowd at the United Center at halftime. And it was mentioned that fellow Bulls Hall-of-Famer Artis Gilmore “introduced” Kukoc as he got recognition for his induction this weekend.
In this halftime speech, Kukoc talked on his love from his hometown of Split, Croatia and he thanked the Bulls organization along with his “teammates and fans”.
All in all, it’s nice to hear about the Bulls faithful paying their respects to Kukoc after a nice career he had with the golden years with the Bulls back in the 1990s.
Kukoc and former Bulls and Detroit Pistons defensive standout big man Ben Wallace pushed the number of players from this franchise in the Hall-of-Fame to double digits this year. Wallace obviously isn’t really thought of as being a Bulls player mainly, but he did spend a couple of years in Chicago.
The Bulls now have four players from the late teams of the 1990s in the Hall-of-Fame with the likes of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, and Kukoc in the mix.