Despite 1994 Playoffs Rift, Toni Kukoc Calls Scottie Pippen A Better Teammate Than Michael Jordan
Toni Kukoc and Scottie Pippen were once considered unfriendly teammates when they played for the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s.
They eventually reconciled their early differences before winning three straight championships from 1996-98. Years later, Kukoc even gave Pippen the ultimate compliment by saying he was a better teammate than Michael Jordan.
Jordan is often considered the greatest player in NBA history.
"I always say Michael probably was the best player,” Kukoc said in an interview with NBA.com in 2021. “Scottie, to me, was as important as Michael. Because of that idea that Scottie was taking care of the whole team and was guarding people. He would bring the ball up and would find the right people and then for Michael it was, ‘OK, take us home.'”
Pippen took it personal during the 1992 Olympics when Kukoc was hailed as the next NBA star while playing for Croatia. During ESPN's "Last Dance Documentary," Pippen was quoted as saying, We were going to give (Kukoc) the worst experience he ever had on the basketball court …We wanted to go guard him on the bench."
Even though they become teammates, their rivalry took another step when coach Phil Jackson called for Kukoc to take the last shot against the New York Knicks in the 1994 playoffs. Pippen, who had an MVP-type season, refused to go in for the last play. But Kukoc hit the winning shot at the buzzer.
Their relationship now proves the past is just the past.
MORE BACK IN THE DAY NBA-RELATED STORIES
Was Latrell Sprewell the original Jimmy Butler? CLICK HERE
Rasheed Wallace explains his welcome-to-the NBA moment. CLICK HERE
When Kevin Johnson asked Hakeem Olajuwon to autograph a poster dunk. CLICK HERE
Shandel Richardson is the Publisher of Back In The Day NBA. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com
TWITTER: @ShandelRich
