HOOPSWORLD: Once you taste the NBA finals, your perception of the league changes. So says Sasha Vujacic, a 6′7″ guard from Slovenia, who recently signed a three-year, $15-million contract to continue his career with the Los Angeles Lakers. The year, he says, is no longer divided into the offseason, training camp, the regular season and the playoffs. It becomes much simpler.
“You are either in the NBA finals, or on your way to the NBA Finals.”
Vujacic is coming off a break-out season averaging 8.8 points per game behind a strong 43% from the three-point line. Usually coming in as a replacement for Kobe Bryant, it was no surprise that it was Bryant who kept in touch with Vujacic through the summer, discussing Vujacic’s contract negotiations and the Lakers in general.
“They say when you sign a contract you can take it easy. But that is not at all how I feel. Hardest work should be in the offseason. Basketball is not just my job, it’s my passion. So it is not hard to dedicate summers to basketball. I had done it since I came to the league.”
Behind every successful basketball player there is usually a great family, providing guidance in a dynamic world that can give a lot, but that also requires a lot. Vujacic’s family has lived here in States since his NBA career started four years ago, because of — among other things — some good advice from New Orleans Hornets’ forward Peja Stojakovic, one of the best international players of the last decade.
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hopefully all that hard work talked about pays off. its good that hez training hard and aiming to being the best shooter.
Yes this is what I want to hear. What is everyone else doing? We know what Kobe, Pau, Drew, and Sasha are doing. What are the rest doing? Fluke? Rad? LO? Ca mon.
Give us some news TLN.
D Fish is the eldest and is at his peak so I understand conditioning and being well rested for the season. But these younger players, we gotta get better and bring something new this season.
sasha is already a good enough shooter, he should work more on his defense
gasol-gain 20 pounds of muscle
bynum-become more like shaq was
lamar-become the shooter you were in 05-06
kobe-work on defense
ariza- have rick fox teach you defense
i hope that odom, bynum, and ariza are joining sahsa in his offseason workout. farmar should be there too but i understand that he is currently in israel or some place like that. oh, walton and radman need a complete makeover. theirs might take longer than one single off season
Kobe obviously got to him. I love it though, he’s definitely going to make every penny of that new contract worthwhile.
Awesome! Now we just need Gasoft to take some testosterone shots.
hez a good defender, but hez bad at controlling his fouls. and obviously hez aiming to become in the 3 point shootout or become a 3-point threat like peja once used to be.
Sasha needs to work on his DEFENSE.
That last second attempt of his to guard Ray Allen will go down in history as one of the all time worst defensive plays.
Oh, and get a haircut! He’s always fitzing with that ridiculous Laker Girl hair band. Enough already!
Put in work!!! We need you this year!!!