Sasha Vujačić
Vujačić playing for the Knicks in 2017
Personal information
Born (1984-03-08) March 8, 1984
Maribor, SR Slovenia, SFR Yugoslavia
NationalitySlovenian / American
Listed height6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
NBA draft2004: 1st round, 27th overall pick
Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers
Playing career2001–2019
PositionShooting guard / point guard
Number18, 20
Career history
2001–2004Snaidero Udine
2004–2010Los Angeles Lakers
2010–2011New Jersey Nets
2011–2013Anadolu Efes
2014Los Angeles Clippers
2014Reyer Venezia Mestre
2014Laboral Kutxa
2015İstanbul BB
2015–2017New York Knicks
2017–2018Auxilium Torino
2019Scaligera Basket Verona
Career highlights and awards
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Medals
Representing  Slovenia
European U-18 Championship
Silver medal – second place2002 GermanyNational team

Aleksander "Sasha" Vujačić[1] (Serbian Cyrillic: Александар Саша Вујачић; Slovene: Aleksander Saša Vujačič; often rendered in English as without diacritics; born March 8, 1984) is a Slovenian former professional basketball player. He was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 2004 NBA draft with the 27th overall pick. In the 2007–08 season, Vujacic set the Lakers record for the best three-point field goal percentage (.437) in a single season.[2] In the 2009 and 2010 seasons, he won the NBA championship with the Lakers. Vujacic is also a two-time Turkish Basketball League All-Star and a Turkish Basketball League MVP.[3]

Early career

From 1998 to 2000, Vujačić played for Branik and Polzela.[4] The following year, he played for the Snaidero Udine junior team, before joining the senior team in 2001.[5]

Vujačić played for the Slovenian junior national team and won a silver medal at the 2002 European Junior Championship.[6]

Professional career

Italy (2001–2004)

From 2001 to 2004, Vujačić played for Snaidero Udine of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A.[5]

Los Angeles Lakers (2004–2010)

Vujačić was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 27th overall pick in the 2004 NBA draft.[7] He signed a multi-year deal with the Lakers on July 20, 2004.[8] He recorded a then-career high 22 points in a win over the Denver Nuggets on November 29, 2007.[9] In the 2007–08 season, Vujačić made 118 of his 270 three-point field goal attempts, setting the Los Angeles Lakers single-season record for the best three-point field goal percentage (.437). During Game 3 of the 2008 NBA Finals, Vujačić scored a career playoff-high 20 points off the bench and was the only Laker, with the exception of Kobe Bryant, to score in double figures.[10] The Lakers went on to lose the series in six games to the Boston Celtics.

On July 28, 2008, Vujačić re-signed with the Lakers on a multi-year deal.[11] Los Angeles made it back to the NBA Finals to face the Orlando Magic. The Lakers defeated the Magic in the 2009 NBA Finals in a 4–1 series, earning Vujacic his first NBA championship.

In Game 6 of the 2010 NBA Finals, Vujačić led the Lakers' bench with 9 points, including two three-pointers. With 11 seconds left in Game 7 and the Lakers leading by two points, Vujačić made two free throws that sealed the Lakers' victory over the Celtics in a Game 7 for the first time in the longstanding Lakers-Celtics rivalry.[12]

New Jersey Nets (2010–2011)

On December 15, 2010, Vujačić was traded to the New Jersey Nets in a three-team trade involving the Lakers and Houston Rockets. Vujačić tied his career high of 22 points on January 1, 2011. On February 9, 2011, Vujačić set a new career high with 25 points in a win over the then New Orleans Hornets.

Anadolu Efes (2011–2013)

Vujačić with Anadolu Efes

In July 2011, he signed a one-year contract with the option for another year with Anadolu Efes.[13] In his first Euroleague season he averaged 13.9 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.[14]

On August 6, 2012, it was confirmed that Vujačić would stay with the team for one more season.[15] In a Euroleague game against EA7 Milano on November 16, he scored 29 points, leading his team to a 77–71 victory.[16] He averaged 12.8 points and 2.7 rebounds per game across ten regular season games.[17] Vujačić helped Efes advance to the Top 16 round, edging Cedevita on the road by 81–73 in one of the most crucial games in group C.[18][19]

Los Angeles Clippers (2014)

On February 3, 2014, Vujačić signed a 10-day contract with the Los Angeles Clippers.[20] He did not re-sign with the Clippers after the first 10-day contract expired.[21]

Reyer Venezia Mestre (2014–2015)

On March 25, 2014, Vujačić signed with Italian team Reyer Venezia Mestre for the rest of the 2013–14 season.[22] He played 5 matches with the team, scoring 11 points per game.[23]

Laboral Kutxa (2014–2015)

On October 28, 2014, Vujačić signed with the Spanish team Laboral Kutxa for the rest of 2014–15 season.[24] He left the team on December 30, 2014.[25]

Istanbul BB (2014–2015)

On January 2, 2015, he signed with İstanbul BB of Turkey for the rest of the 2014–15 Turkish Basketball League season.[26]

New York Knicks (2015–2017)

Vujačić (left) playing for the Knicks in 2015

On August 7, 2015, Vujačić signed with the New York Knicks.[27] He made his debut for the Knicks in the team's season opener against the Milwaukee Bucks on October 28, recording 11 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 steals in a 122–97 win.[28] On March 9, 2016, Vujačić scored a season-high 23 points to help the Knicks defeat the Phoenix Suns 128–97.[29]

Vujačić re-signed with the Knicks on July 14, 2016.[30] On February 1, 2017, he made Knicks history by converting two four-point plays during the Knicks 95–90 win over the Brooklyn Nets.[31]

Auxilium Torino (2017–2018)

Vujačić signed with Italian club Auxilium Torino for the 2017–18 season on August 29, 2017.[32] On February 18, 2018, Vujačić scored the game-winning layup to win the 2018 edition of the Italian Basketball Cup with Fiat Torino, beating Germani Basket Brescia 69–67 in the Finals.[33]

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high
 †  Won an NBA championship *  Led the league

NBA

Regular season

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2004–05 L.A. Lakers 35311.5.282.270.9471.81.5.3.12.9
2005–06 L.A. Lakers 82*417.7.346.343.8851.91.7.6.03.9
2006–07 L.A. Lakers 73412.8.392.373.8781.5.9.6.04.3
2007–08 L.A. Lakers 72017.8.454.437.8352.11.0.5.18.8
2008–09† L.A. Lakers 80016.2.387.363.9211.71.41.0.15.8
2009–10† L.A. Lakers 6718.6.402.309.8481.2.6.3.12.8
2010–11 L.A. Lakers 1104.9.348.429.500.4.5.1.01.8
2010–11 New Jersey 561728.5.404.369.8513.32.3.9.111.4
2013–14 L.A. Clippers 205.0.400.500.0001.5.0.5.02.5
2015–16 New York 612514.9.383.364.8212.41.4.6.14.9
2016–17 New York 4249.7.309.311.7081.41.2.3.03.0
Career 5815815.3.390.367.8581.91.3.6.15.3

Playoffs

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2006 L.A. Lakers 7018.4.423.6001.0002.4.9.6.06.0
2007 L.A. Lakers 4010.8.556.250.0001.0.8.3.02.8
2008 L.A. Lakers 21021.7.399.392.8572.2.8.6.28.1
2009† L.A. Lakers 23010.9.264.314.8331.4.5.4.23.0
2010† L.A. Lakers 1007.6.435.400.833.8.5.2.03.1
Career 65014.7.366.384.8791.6.6.4.15.0

Euroleague

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG PIR
2011–12 Anadolu Efes 161629.0.407.338.8643.31.71.1.213.912.2
2012–13 Anadolu Efes 24721.7.376.376.7583.01.0.8.19.18.3
2014–15 Laboral Kutxa 8221.7.318.292.6671.9.8.3.14.91.8
Career 482524.1.409.349.8032.91.2.8.110.07.4

Personal life

Vujačić was born in Maribor, Slovenia, to a Serbian father and Slovenian mother. His father was a Serbian basketball coach,[34] while his mother Ksenija was a Slovenian volleyball player.[35]

His mother was playing volleyball for a top Yugoslav women's club, Branik Maribor, but quit her career at the age of 19 when she got pregnant with Sasha.[35] His parents divorced when he was 2, and he lived with his mother and stepfather Goran Bjeković . He has two siblings, a sister named Nina, and a brother named Aljosa. In addition to playing basketball, he enjoys volleyball, tennis, and soccer.[36]

He was once engaged to professional tennis player Maria Sharapova,[37] but the two separated in 2012.[38]

In early 2020, Vujačić's relationship with American TV presenter Kristine Leahy was revealed.[39] The two initially met in October 2019 when he appeared as guest on her Fair Game interview program on Fox Sports 1 and subsequently became involved romantically.[39]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Our Story - Aleksander Wine
  2. ↑ Three Point Field Goal Percentage – Los Angeles Times
  3. ↑ Week 6 MVP: Sasha Vujacic, Anadolu Efes Istanbul – Euroleague
  4. ↑ mš (February 17, 2012). "Deset odvetnikov usklajevalo predporočno pogodbo Šarapove in Vujačića" (in Slovenian). dnevnik.si. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  5. 1 2 "SASHA VUJACIC". interperformances.com. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
  6. ↑ 20 Sasha Vujacic – HoopsHype
  7. ↑ "2004 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  8. ↑ Sasha Vujacic Player Profile – RealGM
  9. ↑ "Kobe watches 4th quarter from bench as Vujacic, Lakers bounce Nuggets". ESPN.com. Associated Press. November 29, 2007. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Lakers Box Score, June 10, 2008". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  11. ↑ "LAKERS RESIGN FREE AGENT SASHA VUJACIC". NBA.com. July 28, 2008. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  12. ↑ Gutterman, Ron (June 17, 2021). "This Day In Lakers History: Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol Deliver Franchise's 16th Championship With Game 7 Win Over Celtics In 2010 NBA Finals". Lakers Nation. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Anadolu Efes signs Vujacic". TalkBasket.net. July 15, 2011. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Vujacic Sasha 2011/12 Season". Euroleague. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
  15. ↑ "Sasha Vujacic staying with Anadolu Efes Istanbul". Sportando. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
  16. ↑ "Vujacic stars as Anadolu Efes holds off EA7 Milano". Sportando. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
  17. ↑ "Vujacic Sasha Seasonal stats". Euroleague. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
  18. ↑ "Game report". Euroleague.net. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
  19. ↑ "Farmar, Vujacic lead Efes into Top 16". Sportando. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
  20. ↑ "SASHA VUJACIC SIGNED TO 10-DAY CONTRACT". NBA.com. February 3, 2014. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  21. ↑ Clippers Not To Sign Sasha Vujacic To Second 10-Day Contract
  22. ↑ "[UFFICIALE]: Reyer, che botto! Arriva Sasha "The Machine" Vujacic". Basketinside.com (in Italian). Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  23. ↑ "Umana Reyer Venezia stats". eurobasket.com.
  24. ↑ "Laboral Kutxa lands Vujacic for remainder of the 2014-15 season". Euroleague.net. October 28, 2014. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  25. ↑ "Sasha Vujacic se desvincula de Laboral Kutxa Baskonia". ACB.com (in Spanish). December 30, 2014.
  26. ↑ Istanbul BSB announces Vujacic, Jenkins and Markota
  27. ↑ "Knicks Sign Sasha Vujacic". NBA.com. August 7, 2015. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
  28. ↑ "Williams scores 24, Knicks beat Bucks 122-97 in opener". NBA.com. October 28, 2015. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
  29. ↑ "Vujacic, Anthony lead hot-shooting Knicks past Suns". NBA.com. March 9, 2016. Retrieved March 10, 2016.
  30. ↑ "Knicks Re-Sign Sasha Vujacic". NBA.com. July 14, 2016. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  31. ↑ "Porzingis, subs rally Knicks to 95-90 victory over Nets". ESPN.com. February 1, 2017. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
  32. ↑ "Torino completes roster with Sasha Vujacic". Eurohoops. August 29, 2017. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  33. ↑ "Basket, Final Eight: Torino-Brescia 69-67. Storica prima dell'Auxilium" [Basketball, Final Eight: Torino-Brescia 69-67. Historical first time for Auxilium]. gazzetta.it (in Italian). February 18, 2018. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  34. ↑ Prominent Slovenian Athletes in the United States by Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia, January 2007.
  35. 1 2 "Rojen na dan žena" (in Slovenian). vujacic.net. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011.
  36. ↑ NBA.com : Sasha Vujacic Bio Page
  37. ↑ Sharapova gets engaged to Lakers' guard Vujacic
  38. ↑ Maria Sharapova and Sasha Vujacic call off engagement
  39. 1 2 "Former NBA star Sasha Vujacic and TV presenter Kristine Leahy confirm relationship after interview airs". NewsComAu. January 3, 2020. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
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