Every player has had their “welcome to the league” moment, but no European had it worse than Toni Kukoc. After getting drafted by former Chicago Bulls general manager Jerry Krause in 1990, Kukoc faced the fury of a Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen-led Dream Team in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

Kukoc recently recalled the beating he and Croatia took:

“Was there any other player in the history of the world who had a Dream Team going after him?” Kukoc said, laughing and recalling the USA vs. Croatia matchup, according to K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago.

Kukoc was still developing overseas and had yet to cross over to the NBA, but he soon got a taste of what he could expect during Bulls practices:

“I didn’t know they were going to come like that,” said Kukoc. “I had no idea they were that hungry to prove a point.”

During an interview for NBA TV’s documentary “The Dream Team,” Jordan had a simple explanation for what happened:

“We weren’t playing against Toni Kukoc. We were playing against Jerry Krause in a Croatia uniform.”

Krause had been touting Kukoc for years, and Jordan and Pippen resented him for it, especially because the Kukoc situation had an impact on Pippen's contract. The Bulls stars took it out on Kukoc in group play, holding him to a miserable four points and seven turnovers. Kukoc had 16 points in the gold-medal game, but the Dream Team still slaughtered Croatia.

Unlike other Europeans making the transition, Kukoc was coming to a championship-caliber team with sky-high expectations after a three-peat:

“When I got there (in 1993), I understand the part because I had that privilege in Europe where younger players had to prove themselves and you give them grief. It’s just part of being a new guy,” said Kukoc. “My difference is I was getting into the world champion Chicago Bulls. Everybody is great. Everybody knows what needs to be done. It wasn’t easy. But I can honestly say, regardless of what Scottie said before, he was a huge help to me, especially that first year. He was absolutely awesome towards me.”

Jordan and Pippen would eventually warm up to Kukoc, as the Croatian received praise during moments when he kept the team alive in the playoffs.

While the start of their friendship wasn't perfect, the Bulls eventually needed Kukoc's production to achieve that second three-peat. Maybe that 1992 demolition of Croatia was exactly what Kukoc needed to eke out a successful NBA career.