(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Although Michael Jordan last played in the NBA 20 years ago, many still feel he’s the greatest player in league history.
He was not only an irresistible force at both ends of the floor, but he also had a reputation as one of the game’s great trash talkers.
During the 1992 Olympics, he and his Team USA teammates went up against Croatia, which was led by Toni Kukoc, in the gold medal game, which they won easily.
Kukoc said Jordan didn’t talk trash to him or his squad, contrary to what some fans may believe, via Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson.
Michael Jordan DID NOT trash talk in the ‘92 Olympics says Toni Kukoc: “No I don’t think so. I don’t think I ever heard Mike talk smack to us in the Olympics. But Michael was one of those guys if you don’t wake him up, then he’s gonna play. He believes in his skill and his… pic.twitter.com/FLKWTj56J0
— Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson (@ScoopB) September 4, 2023
According to the narrative, Kukoc, who had been drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 1990, was being doted on by Bulls management, which left Jordan angry.
At the time, Kukoc hadn’t debuted for the Bulls yet, as he was playing for his national team, and Jordan looked to take his anger out on the forward.
Jordan retired in 1993, and the following season, Kukoc finally arrived in the States to start playing for Chicago.
Jordan then returned from his minor league baseball sabbatical late in the 1994-95 campaign, and the two teamed up to lead Chicago to their second of two three-peats in the 1990s.
As an NBA player, Kukoc provided the Bulls with a decent third scoring option next to Jordan and Scottie Pippen, and in an era of slowdown offenses, it was enough for them to become a dominant team again.
Kukoc ended up playing 13 seasons in the league, and he ended up being inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021.
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