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Chicago Bulls: 25 Best Players To Play For The Bulls

By Phil Watson

Mar 19, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of the Michael Jordan statue outside of the United Center before the game between the Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of the Michael Jordan statue outside of the United Center before the game between the Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports /
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CHICAGO, UNITED STATES: The Cleveland Cavaliers’ Johnny Newman tries to take the ball away from the Chicago Bulls’ Toni Kukoc in the first half 15 March 1999 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. (JOHN ZICH/AFP/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, UNITED STATES: The Cleveland Cavaliers’ Johnny Newman tries to take the ball away from the Chicago Bulls’ Toni Kukoc in the first half 15 March 1999 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. (JOHN ZICH/AFP/Getty Images) /

15. player. 24. <strong>How acquired:</strong> Second-round pick (29th overall) from Jugoplastika (Croatia), 1990 NBA Draft.. SF. 1993-2000. Toni Kukoc

The Chicago Bulls took a rising European star in Croatian Toni Kukoc in the second round of the 1990 NBA Draft and then played the waiting game.

Kukoc played another season in Croatia and two years in Italy before signing with the Bulls in July 1993.

CHI_15_KUKOC
CHI_15_KUKOC /

He was an All-Rookie selection in 1993-94 and was named Sixth Man of the Year in 1995-96, helping Chicago to three straight titlers from 1996-98.

Kukoc started two of the six games in the 1996 NBA Finals, averaging 13 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 29.5 minutes per game, shooting .423/.313/8-for-10 in a victory over the Seattle SuperSonics.

Coming off the bench exclusively, he averaged eight points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 23.3 minutes on .405/10-for-18/8-for-10 shooting in a six-game triumph over the Utah Jazz in the 1997 NBA Finals.

A starter in the rematch with the Jazz in 1998, Kukoc averaged 15.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.2 steals in 37 minutes per game, shooting .500/.304/8-for-13 in another six-game win over Utah.

In February 2000, Kukoc was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in a three-team deal, with the Bulls acquiring John Starks and a first-round pick in 2000 from the Golden State Warriors and Bruce Bowen from the 76ers.

In parts of seven seasons in Chicago, Kukoc averaged 14.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.1 steals in 29.5 minutes per game, shooting .458/.327/.748.

Kukoc was traded to the Atlanta Hawks in February 2001 and was dealt to the Milwaukee Bucks in August 2002.

He retired after the 2005-06 season.

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