Not many in the league could earn Kobe Bryant’s approval, so how did someone with no All-Star appearance do it? The player in discussion is Sasha Vujocic, whom many would remember for his free throws for the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals. Shots that created a major difference in the Lakers’ win over the Boston Celtics. Hard to believe that he was the same player who had to wait for three whole seasons to be truly welcomed to the league. That struggle came back into focus during Vujacic’s recent sit-down on the Out The Mud Podcast.
The 2x NBA champ brought up the 2007 playoffs, when the Lakers were locked in a battle with the Phoenix Suns. And like any heated playoff environment, the crowd was relentless. Suns fans zeroed in on his first name—mocking him for it, turning Sasha into the punchline of the night, claiming it to be a girl’s name. But amidst the noise and jeers, one voice stood firm behind him—Kobe’s.
“Played Phoenix in the playoffs… That’s officially, when Kobe said, ‘Officially, welcome to NBA.’ I’m like, ‘What do you mean?’ He’s like, ‘They finally have a sign about your name and now you’re in NBA,’” Vujacic shared during the podcast, recalling how that moment, oddly enough, was his rite of passage. Later in the conversation, he opened up about his nickname, The Machine—a title he didn’t earn with flashy moves but through relentless grind.
“I was locked in that gym. That’s how I got the nickname… I knew that I was not the strongest… Gotta work really hard… I want to be like the guy that can give Kobe minutes at the end of the game to play defense. So a lot of times, like, I would not start games ever. I didn’t care, but I wanted to finish games,” Vujacic said on Out The Mud Podcast.
Kobe Bryant 2.v.li. nimmt für seine Los Angeles Lakers die Trophäe für das beste Team bei den ESPY Awards 2009 in Los Angeles entgegen, dahinter, v.li.: Sasha Vujacic, Luke Walton und Jordan Farmar – PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxONLY LAP2009071535
Now, for those unaware, Vujacic was drafted by the Lakers in 2004. For years, he warmed the bench, waiting for his shot. And it finally came in the 2007-08 season, when he became a critical piece of a title-chasing squad. That year, he averaged 8.8 points and 2.1 boards, while sinking nearly 44 percent of his shots from beyond the arc.
From being jeered by rival fans to earning late-game minutes alongside Kobe Bryant, Vujacic’s journey reminds us that sometimes, all it takes is belief—both in yourself and from a legend who sees what you’re capable of. No wonder that he not only earned Black Mamba’s respect but his love too.
“Proud of him”: The time when Kobe Bryant called Vujacic his little brother
Ever watched the final stretch of Game 7 from the 2010 NBA Finals and found yourself asking—why didn’t Phil Jackson go with Kobe Bryant or Derek Fisher for that crucial moment? It’s a fair question. Bryant was the go-to guy, the Black Mamba. Fisher had built his career on clutch shots. But in that moment, the Lakers turned to Sasha Vujacic. Why? Because by then, he’d already proven himself. Not just to the coaches, but to Kobe himself.
“I’m very proud of him. He’s like a little brother to me because I tease him quite a bit,” Black Mamba said about his teammate from Slovenia. “One thing about Sasha is that he doesn’t lack confidence. He’s not afraid of pressure situations at all. If there is a guy on the floor that I’m gonna pass the ball to to hit a game-winning shot, after Derek, is Sasha. He just absolutely have no fear, whatsoever.”
Looking back, Vujacic knew how fans remembered that moment. “A lot of times, people forget that I was there for seven years (in LA) and the only thing they remember are the free throws,” he once admitted. His role on the team might have shifted over the years, but when it came down to the wire, Vujacic showed exactly why he belonged.
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