Toni Kukoc

“Coming here, I never thought about being like what I was supposed to be in Europe, the No. 1 guy and building the whole team around you. Coming here, I was relaxed about that because I knew there was going to be Michael, Scottie, Horace and I could learn from them.”

“Someone can tell you something a million times, but if you don't know what they're talking about, it's hard to adjust and even more difficult to become a believer.”

“Sometimes in my mind I have a picture of something happening, and because the foot is not right it is harder to happen. I see the ball and I can see myself intercepting it or rebounding or doing this stuff, and it's just not there. There's not the movement or explosiveness.”

“Sometimes I haven't been happy, but it was never a problem with somebody around me. And winning, that helps a lot.”

“I know Steve Kerr well and his basketball IQ is really high. He knows everything about basketball.”

“My biggest reason for coming is to prove to myself that I can play in the NBA.”

“When some new guy wants to beat you, and you know you are better than him, you will make him see immediately who is the boss.”

“I'm excited to try the NBA. But, for sure, I need time on the court to get used to this style.”

“I have to go to the NBA and try.”

“I always thought about the NBA.”

“Only Vlade Divac go first year he play. The rest of the guys from Europe sit on the bench.”

“It would be nice to play again for a team that has a great chance to win a championship.”

“There were games I would score five and games I would score 30, and sometimes the five points were way more important than the 30.”

“Maybe NBA teams won't want me and maybe I'll play in Europe the last one or two seasons.”

“I have always felt that I have to play with the ball to be the best player I can.”

“At least I can say no player got as much attention from the Dream Team as I did.”

“I worry for the future of the world. For my children.”

“I kind of expect that the people wouldn't know me. I know I'm tall and I cannot escape that.”

“My generation, with Vlade Divac, Drazen Petrovic, Arvydas Sabonis, that was the first wave of European players that kind of opened the door for the world.”

“My uncle was almost hit by a sniper while dropping his son at basketball practice.”