"When I came back, I was looking forward to playing with him" - MJ reveals how Toni Kukoc earned his respect before they ever shared the floor originally appeared on Basketball Network .
For Michael Jordan, respect was never handed out; it was earned in practice and in the game. But in Toni Kukoc's case, he earned it before he ever wore a Chicago Bulls jersey.
In the documentary "The Magical Seven," Jordan shared a story that reveals how much his view of Kukoc changed between 1992 and 1995 — and why he was genuinely excited to return to Chicago and finally play alongside him.
"The thing that I respect the most about Toni Kukoc. I retired in 1993. I never spent any time with Toni Kukoc other than playing against him in 1992," started MJ. "He showed up at the press conference, and when I was leaving, he literally cried because we never had an opportunity to play. That earned my respect and camaraderie."
MJ, who had just shocked the world with his first retirement in October of '93, saw something in Kukoc 's emotional reaction that stuck with him. They weren't friends. They weren't teammates. However, the fact that the Croatian cared deeply about missing out on playing together hit differently.
"So when I came back, I was looking forward to playing with him," added Jordan.
That's not something Jordan said about many teammates — especially ones he once viewed with suspicion.
Kukoc's early NBA years weren't easy. In 1992, before he even joined the Bulls, he was already on Jordan and Scottie Pippen's radar — and not in a good way. During the Barcelona Olympics, the Dream Team made it a point to target Kukoc. Why? He was seen as Jerry Krause's guy. The GM's infatuation with the Croatian forward, while ignoring contract disputes with Pippen, didn't sit well with the Bulls' stars.
So when Team USA faced Croatia, Jordan and Pippen smothered Kukoc. They wanted to make a statement — to him, to Krause, and to anyone watching.
But Kukoc didn't fold. He responded with composure and showed flashes of the talent that would eventually earn Jordan's respect and make him a vital part of the Bulls team.
By the time MJ returned to the NBA in 1995, Kukoc had already been through two rollercoaster seasons in Chicago. He had hit game-winners, battled criticism, and carved out a role in a chaotic post-Jordan locker room. But he hadn't yet played with the man himself.
That changed after MJ's comeback. Together, they won three straight championships and Toni was an essential part of that second three-peat. His versatility, shooting, and unselfishness fit seamlessly into the triangle offense. Mike, who always valued competitiveness and sacrifice, embraced him.
Their relationship deepened beyond the hardwood. When Kukoc was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021, he personally requested Jordan to present him — a gesture that said it all.
In many ways, Kukoc's journey is one of the most unique in Bulls history. He arrived as an outsider, viewed with skepticism by his peers, and left as a champion respected by the greatest to ever play.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
