Lakers’ Sasha Vujacic Says Practices With Kobe Bryant Felt Like “Wars”
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Former Los Angeles Lakers guard Sasha Vujacic described his daily training sessions with Kobe Bryant as true battlegrounds, saying the Hall of Famer’s relentless approach shaped the team’s championship culture.
Speaking on ESPN LA in a recent interview, Vujacic recalled arriving in Los Angeles in 2004 determined to win, only to discover that Bryant’s standards exceeded anything he had experienced. “Our practices were basically like wars,” he said, adding that once Bryant trusted a teammate, “he would do everything to get the best out of you.”
Early-morning rivalries
Vujacic said Bryant’s legendary work ethic pushed him to extremes. According to the Slovenian guard, Bryant often reached the gym by 5:00 a.m., prompting Vujacic to show up even earlier. “I wanted to outwork him, but it was impossible,” he admitted. The two eventually formed a mentor-student relationship that Vujacic compared to having “a big brother from Day 1.”
Impact on championship runs
The combative practices paid off during the Lakers’ back-to-back title seasons in 2009 and 2010. Vujacic pointed to his clutch free throws in Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals as proof of Bryant’s influence, noting that the five-time champion’s obsession with winning “taught me how to study the game” through film sessions and constant competition.
Vujacic also said Bryant’s drive stemmed from his desire to match Michael Jordan. “In my opinion, MJ and Kobe are on that one mountain nobody can reach,” he told ESPN LA.
Although Bryant’s intensity was sometimes viewed as abrasive, Vujacic insisted it stemmed from a genuine commitment to developing championship habits across the roster. “He’s always with us,” Vujacic said, expressing belief that Bryant’s spirit continues to inspire the Lakers franchise and its supporters.
Source: LakersNation.com
