John Salley: Watching Luka Reminds Me Of Toni Kukoc | 5/31/24

[@djhasta5031]

Ant getting Jordan comparisons while Luka getting Kukoc comparisons

[@rodericksasu6976]

Ayooo 😭

[@timeless74]

Wow

[@blicleak1101]

Well we all saw who killed whom right?

[@Liam-ex4mf]

Lukas pre draft comparison was toni kukoc/hedo. Thats crazy tho, rookie luka better than both

[@Alberto-mf4cb]

When Kukoc played in Europe he dominated the continent in a similar style as Luka does now, and also Kukoc did it in the international scale with Yugoslavia from 89 to 91 winning it all. I see a fair comparison, the problem is the best versión of Kukoc wasnt seen in the Nba. Not saying Kukoc better than Luka, but there are similarities in their game and how impactful Kukoc also was. You can look for a final championship where Kukoc scored 9 out of 13 threes or so to beat USA team being a teenager.

[@partizanbgd0113]

Being compared to Toni Kukoč is a compliment. Not sure why so many here think it’s a disrespect. Us from former Yugoslavia consider him to be one of the greatest players. Luka and Jokic are improvements and still have plenty of their career ahead of them. Non of that next MJ comparison for a player being 22; give these guys time before you think this was a disrespect. John knows his basketball and I truly respect this man.

[@pp-vf8ls]

add Drazen to it please

[@partizanbgd0113]

@@pp-vf8ls”Mozart” was of course the best. A machine and way ahead of his time.

[@aleksandarhadjov8536]

Kukoc was a monster these kids today don't realize that Kukoc will be a left handed Luka in today's game

[@MrDboydeluxe]

Kukoc must of been HELL of a lot better than I recall, for the life of me I can't remember those 33-10-9 seasons...

[@lp3860]

People with their fake outrage once again, smh. Just like when Phil compared Mahmoud to Curry. It was a great comparison even though Curry is much better. Kukoc was the best player in Europe, who could shoot, pass and score. So it's a very good comparison. You don't have be as good on the NBA level to remind someone else. Also Toni held the ball in 40 games as much as Luka does in five, and the defense/physicality is completely different than it is today. To me Luka is more like Bird, but Larry didn't hold the ball for very long either before getting rid of it.

[@lippyck6482]

lol...its not all in stats...watch him play...luka has his team, kukoc was support for jordan and later ai...and kukoc was one of early europians that had to prove themself in nba to get minutes

[@Mark-j2h]

So you're telling me that Salley doesn't watch basketball anymore

[@everydayesteban]

nah he’s just racist but it’s ok because he’s black.

[@EbizzerHH]

Obv. he doesn't

[@bagelboy4234]

Kukoč never demoralized the best defenders in the NBA on a week to week basis. Luka is a different beast.

[@kinidiosodlosios6892]

he did not say he was better than Luka ..anyway Kukoc did not have that role in a team if he was drafted today and have all freedom i think he would be even better than Joker ..he was better shooter than Joker and more athletic and elite passer

[@everydayesteban]

White players can only be compared to other white players according to these 🤡

[@AnteGV1950]

Toni played with Jordan and Pipen, so he couldn't do it...but he was in Europe as good as Luka...not saying he would be better, just that he was best European player for few years, and won everything...US basketball couldn't beat Yugoslavia, so they sent Dream Team to win gold medal...it should mean something

[@Josiah-gk4ou]

@@kinidiosodlosios6892you’ve lost your mind

[@cyber6sapien]

@@Josiah-gk4ou Agreed.

[@dropshot3113]

It's not a bad comparison in the limited sense that Kukoc had vision, was a wiilling and immaginative passer, high BB IQ, could shoot the 3. The first or one of the first stretch fours. Europeans like Dirk idolized Kukoc, and NBA players - like KD. He was better suited for today's game, actually. I don't think he could dominate the league like Luka so that's off. Yet he had a great hall of fame career 3 times Euroleauge champion with Jugoplastika, once with Treviso, Euro champ, World champ, and silver medalist at the Olympics for Croatia, 6th man of the year in the NBA, and 3 rings He was the main reason the US sent the first Dream Team - raining 11 threes on the previous US team, and taking them out of the WC. Not bad at all for one of the Euro pioneers in the NBA. Kukoc no. 7 was/is iconic in the ex Yugoslavia (so Slovenia too), and Europe. I always thought Luka's number 77 maybe stemmed from that. It wouldn't be strange, but that's mere personal speculation.

[@jorgeorozco5417]

Dan Patrick not questioning Salley is everything i hate about these guys

[@Alberto-mf4cb]

When Kukoc played in Europe he dominated the continent in a more powerful manner than Luka did it during his time in Real Madrid. Also Kukoc dominated the international basket competitions with Yugoslavia from 89 to 91, winning it all, alongside other great players. I see a fair comparison, the problem for americans is that the best versión of Kukoc couldnt be seen in the Nba. Not saying Kukoc better than Luka, but there are similarities in their game and how impactful Kukoc also was overseas and internationally. You can look for some videos of him playing with Yugoplastika and also a final championship when Kukoc scored 9 out of 13 threes or so to beat USA team in the late 80's. Americans were destroyed by Kukoc in a similar way Luka destroyed yesterday Minnesota's hopes and hearts. Hence, dont be rude like Stephen "clown" Smith when speaking about international players and ask yourselves a favor getting cultivated.

[@MrDboydeluxe]

LeBron reminds John Salley of Tree Rollins....

[@billywilson1368]

This white guy reminds me of this other white guy

[@maxglaze7143]

Precisely.

[@timeless74]

White guy reminds me of other white guy.

[@Alberto-mf4cb]

When Kukoc played in Europe he dominated the continent in a more powerful manner than Luka did it during his time in Real Madrid. Also Kukoc dominated the international basket competitions with Yugoslavia from 89 to 91, winning it all, alongside other great players. I see a fair comparison, the problem for americans is that the best versión of Kukoc couldnt be seen in the Nba. Not saying Kukoc better than Luka, but there are similarities in their game and how impactful Kukoc also was overseas and internationally. You can look for some videos of him playing with Yugoplastika and also a final championship when Kukoc scored 9 out of 13 threes or so to beat USA team in the late 80's. Americans were destroyed by Kukoc in a similar way Luka destroyed yesterday Minnesota's hopes and hearts.

[@rodericksasu6976]

This is why Ant would never catch up to Luka or Jokic imo. He just did not have the same technical skills development as them. Luka has 7 years minimum of training ahead of him. Ant is just amazing because he is explosive, but once that dies out? If I think my kid has talent, I'd send him to Europe to learn and develop.

[@pp-vf8ls]

@chopin1975-tq3gx at least his kid can learn fundamentals

[@RogerCh888]

What I love about european development is it doesn't cost an arm and a leg if you have talent, you'll be recruited to join a professionals teams youth team and they can recoup those investments in other ways. The US system is bad.

[@MavDon-qc9tc]

Ant is MJ but Luka is kukoc? 😂😂😂😂

[@Liam-ex4mf]

Luka is honestly european lebron

[@cyber6sapien]

Neither of those claims are remotely true.

[@koudrus]

@@Liam-ex4mf He's clutch and didn't hop teams, so I think that's a really bad comparison.

[@benhuncho4910]

John salley back at it again💡

[@tnightwolf]

I've always loved to watch basketball (specially the NBA) despite "my sport" always being football (which i play with friends to this day). Europe can be rough when it comes to professional basketball players salaries (because of the culture and economic power difference between the US and Europe) they don't get even close to as much as football/soccer player possibly can do. That being said, a good fundamental structure and good sport-fundamentals (whatever the sport might be) should always be welcomed and a good athlete should never refuse it! Solid basic fundamentals are always a + in any kind of sport (and in many real-life situations tbh).

[@ericcouch]

Luka is way better than toni was. not even close.

[@cooljp1531]

No he isn't. You've probably never seen Kukoc play in the NBA, and I am 100% sure you never saw Kukoc in his pre-NBA days. Kukoc's Euro team from late 80s would sweep the crap out of this Dallas team

[@ericcouch]

@@cooljp1531 you'd be incorrect about that. I watched many bulls games during his time there. I also watched him play in the olympics. you're comparing a guy who has averaged 29 ppg vs a guy who averaged 11. you know nothing about basketball.

[@cooljp1531]

@@ericcouch put luka on that Bulls team and see if he even stays on it with his bullshit random threes. Hey I like Luka and hope he wins this, but he'd average 5 pts per game playing in the 90s in that situation. Right now he has a blank check to hog the ball as much as he wants and shoot any time he wants. Very different things. I'm telling you Kukoc's Euro team from the late 80s would sweep this Dallas team By the way Adrian Dantley averaged30+ 5 seasons in a row and shot 10% better than Luka. Anybody can score 30 in the right situation

[@ericcouch]

@@cooljp1531 lol. lol.

[@cooljp1531]

@@ericcouch How many points did Petrovic average stuck behind Drexler in Portland. ( 5,6 points ) Then after moving to Jersey averaged 22ppg on 52% shooting and 45% from three. You think it makes no difference? Luka watching Jordan from the bench and getting 10 minutes of playing time and Luka now, yeah right.

[@cyber6sapien]

Looking at the comments lead me to one simple conclusion. Technology has made people dumber. Nowhere in the video did John Salley say that Toni was on Luka's level. He said their style of play is similar. And that Toni did not get the opportunity to demonstrate his full skill set because of the role he had to acquiesce to in Chicago. People's ability to see nuance and to think critically has seriously diminished!

[@luridsilence]

Anything to throw just a little bit more shade at MJ 🙄 yes, Toni was amazing--in EUROPE! He had a rough time with the physicality of the NBA. He wasn't "that guy." Hence why he never did anything in the league. The most he ever averaged was 19.7, on a bad Hawks team. The euro league back then, was absolutely more finesse. So, put Toni in the league NOW with today's rules and players? Then ya, he'd be great. But John Salley is great at ignoring context.

[@purplemonkeydishwasher4241]

Salley is a full time troll. You have to take everything he says with a grain of salt.

[@sharonuttech12]

Seems like an insult

[@it15]

That's because you've never seen Toni in his Europe days. He would be a triple double machine as a first option in today's NBA.

[@jc2333]

Tk 7 is great.

[@Sani-wk8ug]

Imo, Luka is just a much better Joe Johnson plus the attitude. You could never speed up or slow down Joe Johnson and he was just so good at using his height and weight against defenders like Luka.

[@NemoElohemi]

It should remind you of Dražen Petrović too!

[@alvin081988]

Toni would have been a Great Player in this Era....and he's a better defender than Luka

[@jameskingston72]

If kukoc was luka the bulls have 10 rings

[@lloyd2daworld]

hmmmm how many rings does luka have now?

[@MrMrzlcu]

Luka is exactly like Bodiroga, but Americans don't even know who he is

[@loodakris5928]

A lot of Americans don’t pay attention to rest of world and history

[@drew318]

I do and no😂

[@RamonAdorno-ds1wu]

This is the worst American NBA players in a lifetime. France will win Gold and the NBA will be international.

[@Blade70]

The Vegan diet destroyed Salley'a brain. 😂

[@maxglaze7143]

Salley you Silly.

[@BubsArcadeFighters]

More Luka disrespect from old players hes 100% better than 🏀🔥

[@TheCondescendingRedditor]

How tf you gonna compare Luka to Kukoč...Kukoč was solid but he is nowhere near Lukas talent, these low tier surface level old heads are wild...

[@EbizzerHH]

How emberassing is this comparison??? WTF... Kukoc is not even in the same realm as Luka skill and talentwise!

[@dzamirokvaj]

please dont compare luka to kukoc. kukoc is nothing like luka and he was never on lukas level…

[@tom80]

Lot of BS from Salley

[@jorgeorozco5417]

This is so stupid old school guys always act like they are smarter then everyone else

[@sebastiansoto7380]

what a lack of respect for luka men

[@mikelepadovano9802]

I agree two big mistakes that Kukoc made one he put weight and second that he went in Chicago I beleive he would’ve been better than Durant

[@thelordofgifts5343]

Luka is better than Michael Jordan buddy