Archive for the 'Sasha Vujacic' Category

Vujacic Checks In

Published
by
Mike Trudell
on October 3, 2009
in Practice News, Sasha Vujacic and Training Camp
. Closed

Sasha VujacicSeeing Sasha Vujacic shoot the basketball after Lakers practice has concluded is like seeing Lady Gaga in a ridiculous outfit … It’s all but a guarantee.

It was no different on Saturday afternoon at L.A.’s facility, as the Slovenian ran through a series of shooting drills with assistant coach/advance scout Rasheed Hazzard. Afterwards, Vujacic told us about his health, his shot and Ron Artest:

On how he’s feeling: I feel good, I feel excited. It’s been four days now, and I think everyone’s a little bit tired, but we’re pushing through it and working really hard heading into our first game on Wednesday. Last year I missed the whole training camp after injuring myself on the first day, but heading into this year I had been doing a lot of rehab and everything looks good right now.

On his shooting It will be better on October 27, but right now it’s OK. Obviously last year I didn’t shoot the ball the way I was supposed to or the way I can, but this year I’m not even thinking about that. I know what I can do and how to do it, so I’m just going to take the right shots and it will work out.

On playing some point guard in practice: I think Phil (Jackson) has been training me throughout my years here to play both guard positions, and I’m lucky to be able to do it. I’ve learned a lot, and each year become more mature. Last season and this summer helped me from that point of view, and having Kobe (Bryant) on my side, calming me down sometimes, is good for me. I like both positions, and wherever Phil needs me, that’s where I’ll play.

On if anyone has stood out to him in practice: I think everyone came into camp prepared. It’s no secret that Ron (Artest) is a new player to us, and he’s just a very, very strong man. That’s the way he plays. I think he fits in pretty well with us - his toughness and his defensive skills are incredible and that’s something we needed, something that will benefit us throughout the season and into the playoffs. He (guarded me today) and he’s like a train coming at you. That’s good though, I like it.

Several Lakers Gather for Wednesday Workout

Published
by
Mike Trudell
on September 16, 2009
in Adam Morrison, Jordan Farmar, Josh Powell, Luke Walton, Off-Season, Ron Artest, Sasha Vujacic and Shannon Brown
. Closed

Training camp is still a few weeks away for the Lakers, yet several of the players gathered in El Segundo on Wednesday afternoon to shoot, lift and play some pick up ball.

As Shannon Brown explained in the above @Lakers Twitvid, he was joined by Luke Walton, Sasha Vujacic, Ron Artest, Jordan Farmar, Josh Powell and Adam Morrison in addition to some D-Leaguers (to round out a 5-on-5 run).

Prior to the full-court action, some of the players went through lifting and general strenghtening activities with Lakers Director of Athletic Performance Chip Schaefer (Walton and Brown specifically), others got some shots up (Vujacic and Farmar) while others worked with assistant coach Brian Shaw and advance scout/assistant coach Rasheed Hazzard on running L.A.’s offense (Artest and Brown).

“It’s just good to get back in here,” said Walton. “I think we’re all excited about the coming season and eager to get ready to go.”

It won’t be long, since the first preseason game is only three weeks away on October 7 against Golden State.

Vujacic Updates Slovenian Situation

Published
by
Mike Trudell
on August 28, 2009
in Off-Season and Sasha Vujacic
. Closed

Sasha VujacicEarlier this week, we read reports that Sasha Vujacic was not selected for the final roster of the Slovenian National Team, set to play in EuroBasket 2009 in September. Slovenia’s coach, Jurij Zdovc, cited a minor knee injury.

Vujacic, however, wanted to explain the situation from his perspective, and he did so on his website.

Well, I know there has been a lot of speculation about what has happened with my participation with the Slovenian team and I wanted to set the record straight to discontinue any rumors and falsehoods. So here is the whole story just for you guys: After a long time of consideration, I accepted the Slovenian national team’s invitation to play for them because I had a strong desire to play for my country and was assured that things had changed with respect to how the team was handled and operated. I reported to camp incredibly healthy, feeling great and ready to work hard to attain the national team’s goals. I trusted their methods and I was ready to accept their training program. I arrived to Ljubljana and joined the team. Our preparation began in Rogla (mountain in Slovenia). The very first day, I realized that training was unreasonably excessive and insensible to avoid injury…

TO READ VUJACIC’S FULL ENTRY, CLICK HERE.

Vujacic To Miss EuroBasket 2009

Published
by
Mike Trudell
on August 24, 2009
in Off-Season and Sasha Vujacic
. Closed

An update on Lakers guard Sasha Vujacic from Eurobasket.com:

The head coach of the Slovenian Basketball National Team Jurij Zdovc cut down the roster for the 2009 European Championship 16 players to 14. Miha Zupan (205-F/C-82) and NBA champion Sasha Vujacic (200-G-84) of Los Angeles Lakers - who has a minor knee injury - were not among the players selected for the roster by coach Zdovc before the tournament in Maribor. The roster now includes Goran Dragic, Jaka Klobucar, Jaka Lakovic, Domen Lorbek, Beno Udrih, Samo Udrih, Goran Jagodnik, Bostjan Nachbar, Primoz Brezec, Jurica Golemac, Erazem Lorbek, Uros Slokar, Matjaz Smodis and Gasper Vidmar.

European Round Up

Published
by
Mike Trudell
on August 21, 2009
in DJ Mbenga, Pau Gasol and Sasha Vujacic
. Closed

blog_0908paugasol_euro
***UPDATE 2: The Spanish National Team expects Pau Gasol (finger) to play.
***UPDATE: Sasha Vujacic will not play in the tournament.

On September 7 in Poland, up to three L.A. Lakers could be representing their National Teams in EuroBasket 2009, an international tournament intended to designate Europe’s best team.

Pau Gasol of Spain, Sasha Vujacic of Slovenia and D.J. Mbenga of Belgium, are all expected to play, though Gasol is in the process of recovering from a torn volar plate on the index finger of his left hand. Gasol will be re-evaluated in just over two weeks when Lakers Athletic Trainer Gary Vitti travels to Barcelona.

Gasol and Vujacic’s teams have already qualified for the tournament, while Mbenga’s battling for Belgium to join his Lakers teammates in Poland.

Mbenga (who grew up in Congo, Africa, before moving to Belgium) has averaged 20.3 minutes on the way to 6.3 points and 3.7 rebounds per game for his country. Belgium needs to win its final game in Group A of the Additional Qualifying Round to finish 3-1 and thus advance to play Group B winner France for the right to play at EuroBasket in Poland. Just as the folks in the “Banging with Mbenga” fan club would have expected, D.J. swatted five shots to open the tournament, then contributed seven points and four boards in a 102-79 victory over previously unbeaten Bosnia and Herzegovina to put the Belgians in place to beat Portugal and move on to join Group B, featuring Russia, Germany and Latvia.

Gasol and Vujacic’s countries are both in Group C, widely considered the tournament’s toughest group, which also features former Laker Vladimir Radmanovic’s Serbia as well as Great Britain.

According to Vujacic’s website, he’s been dealing with a sore knee, but began practicing again on Monday, August 14.

Slovenian Basketball Federation national team director Matej Avanzo confirmed that Sasha will be practicing with the team again on Monday and travel with them to Spain for their next match after the games against Croatia.

Stay tuned for further coverage of Gasol, Vujacic and Mbenga as EuroBasket 2009 approaches.

Sasha Vujacic: Exit Interview

Published
by
Mike Trudell
on June 18, 2009
in Sasha Vujacic
. Closed

blog_090616sashavujacicFollowing a breakout 2007-08 season that earned him a contract extension with the Lakers, Sasha Vujacic was disappointed with his injury-plagued 2008-09 that saw his contributions wane as the season wore on.

In the regular season, Vujacic averaged 5.8 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 0.96 steals in 16.2 minutes per game while shooting 38.7 percent from the field and 36.3 percent from three. In the playoffs, his minutes dropped to 10.9 minutes per game, and his production to 3.0 points, 1.4 rebounds and 0.5 assists on 31.4 percent from three and 26.4 from the field.

In his exit interview, Vujacic talked about how he plans on improving things for next season among other things:

- First of all, he was wearing a green shirt. Apparently the Celtics demons have been exercised. He’ll also be cutting some hair, but not too much.

- On meeting with Phil Jackson: “It was an interesting meeting. I understand (his perspective).
From a personal point of view the season didn’t go how I wanted. I had a different role. Sometimes you have to give something up to be part of the team’s success. That’s what I learned this season … Being today in front of you as a world champion is very important to me and my teammates. It’s going to be an interesting summer.”

- An honest, open Sasha on his tough year: “It’s not a secret that I shot the ball terribly this year. I was disappointed with myself, there’s no one to blame for that, no excuses to be found. I was struggling all year long to find a game rhythm and to catch what I found last year, to play with the same (freedom) that I did last year. That was missing, but I and (Phil) know what I am capable of.”

- BUT: “It doesn’t really matter, we’re world champions at the end of the day.”

- This summer could be very important for Vujacic retaining his rhythm as he’s planning on playing big minutes with the Slovenian National Team: “That’s going to be crucial for me. Both Mitch and Phil agreed that that’s a good idea. A summer to get away, refocus and (find) rebirth. I need to completely clear my mind. We have games in Slovenia, and to be honest with you, slowly L.A. became home to me, so that has nothing to do with it. I’m confident playing for the National Team is going to bring that back.”

- Vujacic said Kobe Bryant joked about him being in the gym too long, and said there might be a little truth to it, but that he can’t change his work habits and desires: “He’s the biggest hard worker I’ve ever seen, that’s why I respect him so much,” said Vujacic of Kobe. “Hard work will always no matter what in life pay off.”

- Vujacic said he’ll report to the Slovenian National team on the 22nd of July. Beno Udrih and other well known guys will also play, he said, and they have the goal of winning the whole thing.

- Missing three weeks of training camp with an injury, according to Mitch Kupchak (through Vujacic) didn’t help Sasha’s season at all.

- Vujacic talked a lot about the pressure he puts on himself to do well, and acknowledged that it may have played a role in his pressing with limited minutes. But he can’t change his style or how he plays.

Halfcourt Contest

Published
by
Ty Nowell
on May 29, 2009
in Jordan Farmar, Sasha Vujacic and Video
. Closed

After this morning’s shootaround Jordan Farmar, Sasha Vujacic and assistant coach Brian Shaw stayed to have a little halfcourt shooting contest. Check out the video above to see who won and what they had to say afterwards.

Sasha Post-Shootaround Video

Published
by
Mike Trudell
on May 19, 2009
in Sasha Vujacic and Video
. Closed

Sasha Vujacic joined us after shootaround to explain why he let Pau Gasol win their regular 3-point shooting contest, share his thoughts on the Denver Nuggets and talk about why he enjoys interacting with fans on Twitter.

Idle Chatter with Sasha

Published
by
Mike Trudell
on February 26, 2009
in Sasha Vujacic and Video
. Closed

Sasha Vujacic plays better after coming on Lakers.com. That’s just how it’s been.

No, seriously, (check the archives).

That’s why we grabbed him after shootaround heading into Thursday evening’s game against the Phoenix Suns, in a game that might demand more minutes from the 6-7 Slovenian thanks in part to Leandro Barbosa’s presence (Vujacic is one of the few capable and willing to chase the Brazilian Blur).

Let’s make no promises, however, that we understand completely how the conversation went. The idle chatter, however, did produce an odd, random nickname that will soon be forgotten. Take a look:

Vujacic Gets Healthy During Break

Published
by
Mike Trudell
on February 17, 2009
in Podcast, Pre-Game and Sasha Vujacic
. Closed

Sasha Vujacic - Daniel GibsonFor some players, the All-Star break is a welcome momentary pause for R&R, a chance to get away from the game and give the legs some rest.

For others, like Sasha Vujacic, the break is a more strategic hiatus from grueling games and practices used to rehabilitate specific injuries.

We forget that Vujacic essentially missed the entire preseason with his injured ankle, and that he’s been nursing a sprain on his other ankle since about a month ago.

Before the game, Vujacic talked about how much better he’s feeling, declaring his ankles “100 percent” in the process. Here’s what he had to say:

 
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