.Before Toni Kukoc joined the Chicago Bulls in the 1993-94 NBA season, he was making a name for himself overseas. Both Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen were able to see that first hand at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.

Now, the Croatian national team along with Kukoc will be featured in a special documentary about the 1992 Olympics.

Emmy Award–winning filmmaker Jack Baric is set to begin production on his latest feature. More Than a Dream is an inspirational sports documentary that tells the extraordinary story of the Croatian national basketball team at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.

Baric will direct and produce the film, which will explore the team’s remarkable silver medal win in their Olympic debut as an independent nation, challenging the legendary “Dream Team” in the gold medal game. Led by four players who were among the first group of international players to enter the NBA – Drazen Petrovic, Toni Kukoc, Dino Radja, and Stojko Vrankovic – the Croatians emerged as a premier European force, defying expectations and securing a place in basketball history.

The inspiration for the film

While the Dream Team commanded the global spotlight during the 1992 Olympics, the Croatian squad arrived in Barcelona with little fanfare. Back home, the newly independent nation was fighting the deadliest conflict on European soil since World War II — a war that claimed more than 10,000 Croatian lives and displaced over 300,000 people.

With a third of their country under siege and fierce fighting all around them, the Croatians risked everything just to make it to practice and games. Leading the charge were four players who were among the first wave of international stars to enter the NBA: Drazen Petrovic of the New Jersey Nets, Toni Kukoc of the Chicago Bulls, and Boston Celtics big men Dino Radja and Stojko Vrankovic.

The entire world knew the Dream Team was destined for gold in 1992, so the real race was to see who would face them in the final. Croatia, Russia, Lithuania, Brazil, and Australia all vied for that spot—with Croatia ultimately earning the right to meet the Americans in the championship game.

“More Than a Dream is more than a sports story,” Baric said. “It’s about a nation fighting to define itself under impossible circumstances. And the courage of athletes who carried the hopes of an entire country onto the world stage. Their journey to Barcelona, facing the greatest team ever assembled, is a testament to resilience, love, unity, and the unbreakable human spirit. I can’t wait to bring their story to life on screen.”

“Representing Croatia in 1992 was one of the greatest honors of my life,” Kukoc said. “Our people were going through a very hard time. And the Olympics were much more than a basketball tournament for me and my teammates. We wanted to do something for our people. I’m thankful to Jack for telling the story of what that team meant—not just for basketball, but for Croatia.”

Full production on More than a Dream is slated to begin in May. It will feature interviews with various sports, cultural, and political figures from Croatia and the United States over archival footage of the team, Olympic games, and wartime Croatia.

Baric plans to premiere the film at the LA28 Olympics.

The post Toni Kukoc, Croatian national team to be featured in 1992 Olympic Basketball documentary appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Who are the best Chicago Bulls players not named Michael Jordan?

There is no question about who the Chicago Bulls’ best player ever is: one Michael Jeffrey Jordan of Brooklyn, New York, later by way of the University of North Carolina.

MJ is the reason that the Chicago Bulls rank fourth all-time in championships won, trailing only the Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, and Golden State Warriors, and he is also the reason that Chi-town has never faced disappointment on the biggest stage. But for all of the praise that the G.O.A.T. gets, there is a slew of overlooked players that have contributed to the overall legend of the Bulls franchise.

These are the best non-Michael Jordan players ever to suit up for the Chicago Bulls.

The post The five best non-Michael Jordan players in Chicago Bulls history appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Since it’s Christmas and we here at ChiCitySports.com are in the holiday spirit, we figured we would throw together a list of the best Chicago Sports moments that occurred on Christmas Day.

Now before we start, let’s discuss this list a little bit. The list is defiantly Chicago Bulls heavy. Why? Because other Chicago teams rarely play on Christmas. The Bears have played twice (both against the Packers), and one of those games wasn’t too fun to watch.

Meanwhile, the Cubs and White Sox are in the off-season, so that cancels them out. The Blackhawks? Well they lost 6-0 on their only Christmas Day appearance. So that leaves the Bulls, who have almost made it a tradition to play on Christmas Day in the 90’s. In the 2000’s? Not so much. Don’t worry though, Derrick Rose has made it possible for the Bulls to play on Christmas Day in recent years. Although Rose won’t be in the lineup when the Bulls host the Rockets.

So whether you like the list or not, I hope you enjoy your Christmas.

5.  Rodman steals the show as the Bulls down the Pistons. (December 25, 1997)

Christmas Day 1997 saw the leagues best player Michael Jordan duke it out against up and coming star Grant Hill as the Pistons visited Chicago for a Christmas showdown. The Bulls entered the game with a 24-3 record which was good for best in the NBA at the time. Meanwhile the Pistons were right behind them at 20-5. NBA fans were certainly in for a treat.

Hill stole the show early on and outscored Jordan 27-23, but it was the Bulls who ended up improving their league best record with a 95-83 win. The Bulls were lead by Scottie Pippens 27 points, including 5 three-pointers to put the Pistons away. Dennis Rodman had a great game as he finished with 22 rebounds to go with his 11 points and 7 assists.

4. Pippen dominates the Knicks. (December 25, 1994)

The Bulls were entering the 1994-1995 season without Michael Jordan for the second consecutive season. They were also in their first year playing at the United Center. On Christmas Day the Bulls & Knicks added a new chapter to their storied 1990’s rivalry that shook the NBA.

Scottie Pippen entered the game averaging close to 22 points per game, but at the nights end Pippen would finish with 36 points in the Bulls 107-104 overtime win over the Knicks.

The Knicks mounted a comeback in the fourth quarter, and Hubert Davis three pointer with less than a second left would send the game into overtime. From there it was all Pippen as the Bulls ended up pulling it out and winning their second consecutive home game. Toni Kukoc added 25 points in the Bulls win.

3. Rose hits game winner in LA (December 25,2011)

The NBA lockout was officially over and the Bulls opened up the 2011-2012 season on the road in LA to take on Kobe Bryant and the Lakers on Christmas Day. While the Derrick Rose era in Chicago had already begun, the young superstar added another classic moment in his young Bulls career.

The Bulls had high hopes entering the season as they were fresh off a loss to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference the previous season. The game was tight throughout, until the Lakers led by 11 with about 3 minutes left.

Then the Bulls mounted a comeback. Trailing by 1 with :20 seconds left, the Bulls stole the inbound pass and Derrick Rose took over.  Rose would hit a floater over Pau Gasol with 4.8 seconds left, and following a defensive stop on Kobe Byrant, the Bulls pulled out the one point win to start the season. Rose would finish with 22 points in one of his more impressive games of the 2011-2012 season.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKc6iqPEL8s

2. Bears claim first NFC North title in Green Bay (December 25, 2005).

The 2005 season was a special one for the Chicago Bears. Not only did they surprise everyone with their first NFC North division title, they also swept their hated rivals to the north, the Green Bay Packers. Led by defensive dominance all season, the Bears found themselves in the position to clinch the NFC North in Green Bay on Christmas Day.

Oh how sweet it was for Bears fans in their first ever Christmas Day match up against the Green Bay Packers. Rex Grossman was making his first start for the Bears that season coming off a knee injury and gave some hope to a lack luster Bears offense at the time. However, it was the defenses time to shine again.

The Bears defense picked off Brett Favre four times including a Lance Briggs interception return for a touchdown in the third quarter to all but seal the game for the Bears. It was the Packers first losing season in the Brett Favre era, and the first time the Bears had swept the Packers in a season since 1991.

(Not the best highlight video, but one of the only ones I could find)

1. Jordan lights the Knicks up for 42 (December 25, 1992)

The Bulls were defending NBA Champions, and the Knicks were looking to dethrone them. What better setting than Christmas Day for another chapter in the Bulls-Knicks rivalry. Instead of the Knicks coming out of Chicago with a much needed win, it was another memorable performance for Michael Jordan.

The Knicks led early and often in the first half taking a 10 point lead into the locker room. But after that, Michael Jordan was no match for the Knicks in the second half. The Knicks finished with just 28 second half points in the 89-77 victory for the Bulls. Jordan finished the game with 42 points and gave Bulls fans an extra Christmas present that night. Scottie Pippen was the only other Bull in double figures as he chipped in 16.

The post In the Christmas Spirit: Top 5 Chicago Sports Moments on Christmas Day appeared first on ChiCitySports.

However, we at Chicitysports.com would like to help you all remember some of the greatest games, series and most epic moments in Chicago Bulls’ history.  That is – while we all keep our fingers crossed that there will be a 2011-12 NBA season…

Here, in episode one, we take a look back into the 1993-94 season.  The Bulls were noticeably without His Airness, yet managed to take the NBA by storm with a surprisingly good record of 55-27.  In the second round of NBA Playoffs, Patrick Ewing and the Knicks would look for revenge, for all of those years of beatings, against a now Scottie Pippen-led Bulls team.

Enjoy.

[youtube id=”3nh-BS_QUVM” width=”600″ height=”350″]

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