Toni Kukoc is giving today’s international NBA stars plenty of respect—but he isn’t ready to put them ahead of the European legends who came before them.
During an appearance on the Croatian program Sport Nedjeljom, the three-time NBA champion discussed the evolution of European basketball and the impact players such as Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo have had on the NBA.
Kukoc had particularly high praise for Jokic and Doncic, highlighting their basketball IQ and fundamentals.
But when it comes to comparing the current generation with the European stars of his era, Kukoc drew a firm line.
“I will never admit that today’s players are better than Drazen, Dino, Divac, Sabonis, or Marculjonis.”
Kukoc also pointed to the dramatically different environments in which players compete today.
He recalled an era when traditional big men crowded the paint and physical interior play was a much bigger part of the game. He argued that Jokic, while an exceptional player, doesn’t face the same type of interior defensive environment that players from Kukoc’s generation encountered.
Modern players also benefit from advancements in nutrition, recovery, training, travel and player development that weren’t available to previous generations.
As Kukoc put it, his generation didn’t have the same level of medical and recovery resources available to today’s NBA stars.
That doesn’t diminish what today’s players have accomplished. Jokic, Doncic and Giannis have established themselves among the biggest international stars in NBA history.
But Kukoc’s argument is that era comparisons need context.
And when it comes to the pioneers of European basketball—Drazen Petrovic, Dino Radja, Vlade Divac, Arvydas Sabonis and Sarunas Marciulionis—Kukoc isn’t ready to concede anything.
The debate over generations continues. 🏀🌍
What do you think: Have today’s European NBA stars surpassed the legends of the ’80s and ’90s?
