ex-NBA Players turned Harsh NBA Critics

[thadzonline]

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http://www.fibaeurope.com/coid_jITep...leMode_on.html

Toni Kukoc was one of Europe's biggest stars at Jugoplastika Split, winning three FIBA EuroLeague titles.

And then, he wowed audiences in Italy with Benetton Treviso.

The 2.11m Kukoc eventually left for the Chicago Bulls and ended up winning three NBA crowns.

The Croatian legend could, he believes, impart some of his wisdom by calling the shots from the sidelines.

"I do believe I would be a good coach," he said in an interview with the newspaper, Jutarnji list.

But Kukoc, according to his remarks in this article, won't be roaming the sidelines for an NBA club any time soon.

Having retired from the NBA before playing the 2006-07 campaign with the Milwaukee Bucks, Kukoc, now 39, appears to have turned sour on America's top league.

"The NBA is a league of selfish people and it is no longer a part of my life," he said.

"Last year, I watched just three games of the Chicago Bulls.

"I hardly ever go to the United Center because there's little to see. It irritates me to see the poorness of the game of today and the lack of intelligence on the court.

"There are too many selfish players in basketball nowadays. I could also have scored 30 points per game but, how many titles would I have won playing with that style?"

At the height of his game, Kukoc was like an artist, particularly with his passing and transition game in Europe.

At times, he showed those skills in America but it wasn't until Michael Jordan had ended his first retirement and come back to Chicago for the 1995-96 campaign that Kukoc won his first NBA crown.

Having experienced the best of the European game, and in North America, Kukoc has formed strong opinions.

"Fifteen years ago, a more collective basketball was played," he said.

"Today, the players believe themselves to be very smart when they say 'give me the ball to prove to you what I can do.'

"The last team was that of the Detroit Pistons.

"Afterwards, everyone wanted to imitate Michael Jordan."

[inyourface]

c kobe gipa dungog² ani hAHa!

btaw tinuod sad nis kukoc. . mao nang mag lisud ang USA sa olympic kay way team work kaayo hehe . .

[[GjB629]]

sakto man si kukoc..makita rman nimo

[yokam]

It's the result of too much hype created and the NBA is moving towards a new generation, the hip-hop generation. It's an era where players will show who's who and who's better than the best and show and try to prove that it's them, hello Kobe and Gilbert. . Nevertheless, though Toni Kukoc got a very good point, I would still not think that bashing on the NBA right now would be fair and right enough. There are still a lot of good team players out there like Steve Nash, Jason Kidd, and even in the younger generations in the likes of Chris Paul and Deron Williams. And speaking about traditional NBA? Kevin Garnett, Carlos Boozer, and Tim Duncan are good examples of players sticking to pure basketball fundamentals. Basketball's essence is not yet dead in the NBA. It would even seem that Utah is still in the Karl Malone and John Stockton era.

[thadzonline]

It's the result of too much hype created and the NBA is moving towards a new generation, the hip-hop generation. It's an era where players will show who's who and who's better than the best and show and try to prove that it's them, hello Kobe and Gilbert. . Nevertheless, though Toni Kukoc got a very good point, I would still not think that bashing on the NBA right now would be fair and right enough. There are still a lot of good team players out there like Steve Nash, Jason Kidd, and even in the younger generations in the likes of Chris Paul and Deron Williams. And speaking about traditional NBA? Kevin Garnett, Carlos Boozer, and Tim Duncan are good examples of players sticking to pure basketball fundamentals. Basketball's essence is not yet dead in the NBA. It would even seem that Utah is still in the Karl Malone and John Stockton era.

Problem sometimes is people tend to see that one individual is bigger than the NBA which was never the case

[yokam]

^^Human nature, sayop ang una manotice pirmi. Tsk tsk

[thadzonline]

^^Human nature, sayop ang una manotice pirmi. Tsk tsk

or maybe sourgraping ra na si Kukoc kay wala nay interesado sa iya services....nyahahaha....btaw, he has some good points but dili lang i overgeneralize

[yokam]

^^LOL. At 39?hehehe. Who would need the services of a guy who can do nothing more than shoot. . He's just probably seeking attention..hehe

[thadzonline]

^^LOL. At 39?hehehe. Who would need the services of a guy who can do nothing more than shoot. . He's just probably seeking attention..hehe

naa man...as shooting coach ala Chip Engellang. LOL

[inkodell]

this is not harsh criticism to NBA. this is reality. at Euro Leagues, they always pass around the ball. they got more assist percentage than scoring percentage. look at NBA now, a lot of players got big scores but look at their FG%, its way too low.