August 23, 2021 - The Croatian coast is used to the world's biggest celebrities visiting, but yesterday's highlight was Michael Jordan coming to Croatia as a tourist in Split.

Of course, his arrival created a lot of media frenzy, and everyone (including us!) wrote about him arriving in Split and boarding an amazing yacht O'Pari. Today, the media was following the vessel's position on vesselfinder.com, so they knew that the yacht and the people aboard it were going to the Šibenik region. That's not a particularly odd choice, as that is the way to get to Krka National Park, and numerous Croatian media confirm today that this is exactly what some of the people in Michael's party did today. While His Airness was enjoying himself on a jet-ski on the Prokljan Lake, as reported by Index and others, Michael's wife Yvette Prieto and friends went on a tour of the Krka National Park.

Šibenik.in website has a video of Michel on the jet-ski:

The photo agencies have also distributed the photos of his wife and friends in Skradin, while visiting the Krka NP.

Photo by Dusko Jaramaz/PIXSELL.

Currently, the O'Pari yacht is docked in the Šibenik port, and I will admit to becoming a bit misty-eyed when I realized that the greatest basketball player of all time will be spending some time in the greatest Croatian basketball player's hometown. Dražen Petrović was born in Šibenik, and there's a memorial to him there, but it's probably not realistic to expect Jordan to pay his respects.

Michael Jordan is not expected to meet any of his colleagues and friends, other Croatian basketball players. Slobodna Dalmacija reports that Dino Rađa didn't even know Michael was coming to his hometown of Split, while Toni Kukoč is reportedly in his home in Chicago, and not on the Mediterranean. Kukoč will be inducted into the Basketball hall of fame in early September, and it will be his former teammate, Jordan, who will co-present him at the ceremony.

August 23, 2021 - After Magic Johnson arrived last summer, arguably the greatest basketball player of all time has arrived in the Dalmatian capital. A look at Michael Jordan in Split. 

NBA legend and Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan (58) arrived in Split on Sunday night. Arguably the greatest basketball player of all time then set off in one of the three vans that met him on the West Coast Riva in Split, where the O'Pari yacht awaited Jordan and his group. 

Ivo Cagalj / PIXSELL

O'Pari was built in 2020, and is 95 meters long, and has six decks. Its weekly rent will set you back around one million euros.

As expected, Jordan's arrival immediately caused euphoria in the city. Last year, Magic Johnson visited Split, and before him, many other great international athletes were seen, but no one quite as big as Michael Jordan, who is holidaying on the luxury yacht in the company of his wife, Yvette Prieto.

Ivo Cagalj / PIXSELL

It is likely that Jordan will meet Toni Kukoč in Split, his former Bulls teammate, but also one of his favorite partners on the golf course.

They may also consider the induction protocol to the Basketball Hall of Fame. After it was announced in May that Toni Kukoč would be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Illinois, it was announced that one of the greatest basketball legends to live would introduce the Croatian basketballer to the Hall of Fame.

Ivo Cagalj / PIXSELL

Namely, Kukoč will be presented by Michael Jordan, his Chicago Bulls teammate, and Jerry Reinsdorf, longtime owner of the Bulls. The three will join each other on stage during the ceremony on September 11, 2021, at the MassMutual Center. 

Along with Kukoč, who owns three NBA rings, the 2021 class includes Val Ackerman, Rick Adelman, Chris Bosh, Bob Dandridge, Cotton Fitzsimmons, Howard Garfinkel, Yolanda Griffith, Lauren Jackson, Clarence Jenkins, Pearl Moore, Paul Pierce, Bill Russell, Ben Wallace, Chris Webber, and Jay Wright.

Source: Jutarnji List

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May 22, 2020 - ‘The Last Dance’ documentary about Michael Jordan and the legendary generation of the Chicago Bulls broke all rating records, but at the same time provoked fierce reactions. A lot of 'dirty' and hitherto unknown details have come to light, and among them, there are many related to Croatia's Toni Kukoc.

T.portal reports that 'The Last Dance' revealed how difficult it was for Toni Kukoc to fight for a place in that team, and it was even harder for him to fit into that 'chosen society' and earn their respect. First of all, this applies to the main star, the inimitable Michael Jordan, but also others, especially Scottie Pippen.

Now, Toni Kukoc has given an interview to Greek Sport24 in which he revealed that he heard from Michael Jordan a few days ago.

"We talked a few days ago and I told him I was happy the documentary was coming to an end. You know why? Because in the last three weeks, I have received more phone calls than in the previous 20 years," said Kukoc and looked back on his years with the Chicago Bulls. The fact is that not everyone could stand what Jordan did to his teammates...

"He was no different to me and he treated us all the same. He simply pushes you to the extremes. There was a good reason for that because our team had the highest expectations. It wasn’t easy and sure not everyone could handle it all. There was a hierarchy and everyone knew their place in the team and that was always the case," Kukoc recalled and revealed what Drazen Petrovic advised him to do. Namely, it was strange to everyone why Kukoc did not go to the Bulls when he was drafted in 1990, but signed for Benetton and stayed there for two years.

"Drazen Petrovic advised me to do that and I think it was a good decision," Kukoc revealed.

Kukoc recalled meeting Jordan and Pippen at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

"I knew it was a matter of time before we met and that was in Barcelona and it was twice, in the group stage and the final. I didn’t play well the first game because I was guarded by Jordan and Pippen, the two best defensive players in the world. I don't think many people would survive that," said Kukoc, who arrived in the Bulls after Michael Jordan temporarily retired from basketball.

"The fact that he wasn't there for a year and a half made it a lot easier for me because I got more minutes. As soon as Jordan returned, I realized how much it helped me to grow without him because I already played in three different positions," explained Toni Kukoc, who was asked by Greek journalists to name who he thinks is the best basketball player of all time.

"It is very easy for me to answer that question," said Kukoc.

"Michael Jordan has made basketball a global sport. It’s hard to compare LeBron James and this era when Magic Johnson and Larry Bird ruled. It's hard to choose the biggest, but I prefer Jordan because I think he would be the best in every era."

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