Toni Kukoc weighed in on whether Zeljko Obradovic would be a good fit for NBA teams and players. The retired legend also broke down Partizan’s loss to Olympiacos, praising one particular player, and explained why Michael Jordan didn’t succeed as a GM.
Credit AP Photo/Jessica Hill – Scanpix
Toni Kukoc watched an exciting game in the Stark Arena last Thursday night, as Partizan eventually lost to Olympiacos Piraeus.
The legend of European and world basketball also made a witty statement about Zeljko Obradovic and his NBA potential.
“It is no secret that he is perhaps the best coach ever, especially in the last 20 years. He also knew him when he was the point guard in our national team,” the retired player told Sport Klub.
“There is no doubt what kind of coach he is. I have no doubt that he would succeed in the NBA. If you take his basketball knowledge, he would surely succeed. If you take his way of communication, I don’t know if the players in the US would survive that, although it’s up to them,” Kukoc admitted.
“The players today are a little spoiled, it seems to me,” he explained with a smile. “The more money they have, the less they play basketball.”
The legendary basketball player expressed his impressions after the match between the Belgrade club and Olimpiacos, and also reflected on the reception by Partizan fans.
“Every time I come to Belgrade, I receive a warm welcome. All players have the desire to play well in this kind of atmosphere, but a few are hit a little harder. I had the feeling that Partizan controlled the game, since they were 13 points up,” Kukoc continued.
“I was a bit surprised by the nonchalant passes and turnovers. With an aggressive defense, Olympiakos turned the match in their favor. After that, Partizan lost its rhythm, the players lowered their guard, that shouldn’t happen.
When you get into the last two minutes in a tie, the team with the momentum finds a way to win the game. Partizan had open looks at the end, but they didn’t go in. All in all, the Greeks deserved to win,” Kukoc noted.
“It was clear that Partizan lack backcourt experience and that the problem was in passing the ball. It didn’t seem to me that the right players got the ball afterwards and it was very difficult for them to create. The players from the bench did not give extra energy”.
The former Yugoslavia national team player saw Nigel Williams-Goss as the main actor of the match.
“In my opinion, Williams-Goss turned the game around. He took over the game, hit a couple of tough shots, but that’s what wins the game. Partizan lost by three points, and he decided the game with those six or seven points,” Kukoc pointed out.
The last Euroleague match that Kukoc watched was Partizan’s quarterfinal series against Real Madrid. In fact, as he said, he’s grown tired of basketball.
“The season is still going on here, I don’t have any great desire. I think the last EuroLeague game I watched was between Partizan and Real Madrid in the playoffs.”
The legendary Chicago Bulls basketball player emphasized the importance of transfering knowledge to the players and the entire basketball organization, which many stars of this sport have failed to do.
“To be a coach today, you have to be a parent, a coach and a psychologist. It’s one thing to have a basketball in your little finger, and another to pass that knowledge on.
Michael Jordan will always be the greatest for me, but he was not very successful as a general manager. When he and Phil Jackson, who was a phenomenal coach, came into their new roles, they didn’t do very well. That’s the difference.”
