"Jokic is great, but I was still a little faster than him" - Toni Kukoc explained why Giannis Antetokounmpo reminds him of himself the most

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"Jokic is great, but I was still a little faster than him" - Toni Kukoc explained why Giannis Antetokounmpo reminds him of himself the most originally appeared on Basketball Network.
Comparisons will never stop in the NBA. Who modeled their game after whom, who inspired whom, and ultimately who was better? When looking at the stars currently dominating the league — Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic — Toni Kukoc is the name that draws a lot of comparisons.
The three-time NBA champion with the '90s Chicago Bulls was a prototype of that style. Relying on pure basketball IQ and an understanding of the game's geometry, angles, spacing and timing — he was a brilliant passer, rebounder, and scorer.
But Kukoc himself, while acknowledging the similarities, sees a third superstar whose game most reminds him of his own.
"Jokic is great, but I was still a little faster than him and could jump higher, hahaha," he said. "Of course, I'm joking. I see some similarities in a lot of players. Jokic reads the game incredibly well, Doncic is amazing, but although he's physically much stronger than I was, I actually think Giannis Antetokounmpo is the most similar to me."
Kukoc was a pioneer
At first glance, with those long arms and strides and a diverse skill set, there's some resemblance to Kukoc. But Giannis Antetokounmpo is still a player who dominates with pure athleticism and physical power. The three-time champ stood out for his high basketball IQ and the fluidity of his game.
He was a true product of the European school of basketball, built on fundamentals and feeling for the game. On the other hand, Antetokounmpo more closely fits the American profile with his speed, strength and explosiveness.
Kukoc also pointed out one big flaw in Gianni's game.
"I'd agree with that because he has no shot. His shot comes from the floor — there's no jump shot. I don't understand why that is, and I don't know if he can even learn it. But then again, look at everything else he does. How can someone drop 50 in the Finals and win MVP and people say he's not good because he can't shoot?"
"Imagine how much he'd score if he had a jump shot and could hit threes and free throws. The only game he was making free throws was that last Finals game. The one before, he didn't even want to go near the ball in case the ref called a foul," he added.Toni knows how hard it is to reach that highest level
Clearly, Toni has a deep respect for Giannis's game, which has been criticized over the years. Still, despite certain limitations, the man has won two MVP titles, brought an NBA championship to the Milwaukee Bucks for the first time in franchise history, and was named Finals MVP.
Add to that a few historic seasons, and Kukoc knows just how hard it is to reach that highest level. Still, when watching Jokic and Doncic, it's hard not to see that flair, that basketball charm The Waiter once brought to the floor.
As said at the beginning — comparisons will never die.This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 21, 2025, where it first appeared.