Written by Scott Sargent
Known to many as the "Croatian Sensation," you may struggle to find a more decorated Olympic basketball player than one Toni Kukoc. Before Kukoc came over to the NBA in what would turn out to be a watershed event for European players converging on the league, Kukoc was very successful overseas including a 1990 FIBA World Championship MVP and EuroBasket’s MVP in 1991.
Kukoc was a two-time Olympics silver medal winner as he represented Yugoslavia in 1988 (Seoul) and Croatia in 1992 (Barcelona). Outside of the Olympics, Kukoc won the gold medal in the 1990 World Championships, only to follow up with a bronze in 1994.
Regarding European Championship play, Kukoc won two bronze medals (1987, 1995) and two gold medals (1989, 1991). He would play in the NBA between 1993 and 2006, where he would suit up for four professional teams including the Chicago Bulls, Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks. He was named the Sixth Man of the Year in 1996, and would play a large role in Chicago’s fourth, fifth and sixth championship seasons. Not garnering much interest from either Milwaukee or Chicago, Kukoc is retired and is currently living in Highland Park, Illinois. Hopefully, he has a nice curio to display his bevy of medals.
