Former NBA player Sasha Vujacic recently compared Los Angeles Lakers Point Guard Luka Doncic to Lakers legend Kobe Bryant. In a recent appearance on the “Out The Mud” podcast, Vujacic, 41, discussed Doncic, 26, as the former can relate to the latter as a two-time NBA champion with the Lakers in 2009 and 2010 and a Slovenia native. Read on for further details.
Former NBA Player Compares
Vujacic compared Luka Doncic to Kobe Bryant on the “Out The Mud” podcast. Vujacic said, “[He’s] incredible… When he first got to the league, what was it, six years ago? I think Mark Stein or somebody called me and they’re like, ‘What do you think about him, he comes from the same country,’ and a couple of them called me and I said, ‘I’ll be honest, I watch him play, and he might be the only one that reminds me a little bit more than anybody else of Kobe.
“The reason being, he plays with a smile, he understands the geometry on a basketball court very well, he’s talented, but there’s something in his eyes that when he plays the game of basketball, it’s just that killer, killer thing that he has. Like he can smell blood like Kobe always said…”
Former NBA Player’s Thoughts
Sasha Vujacic shared his thoughts about Luka Doncic. Vujacic said, “You can see that he’s still young, but I think he’s got something of my big bro there, and the way we got him, I think also Kobe might have had something to do with it because of Nico and [Rob Pelinka]. But he’s special, he’s definitely special, and I think if he stays on the right path, and I think he will, there’s quite a few championships ahead of him.”
Vujacic’s thoughts about Doncic might share the sentiment of the Dallas Mavericks fans. Doncic is a generational talent who influences the game of basketball on and off the court. Doncic’s flaws, especially his poor defense and anger outbursts, can be overlooked due to his ability to score, pass, and take over NBA games in clutch moments.
Final Thoughts
Vujacic has a point about Doncic. The Dallas Mavericks lost to the Los Angeles Lakers 112-97 at the American Airlines Center on Wednesday night. Doncic scored 45 points in his emotional return to Dallas since the trade to Los Angeles in early February. Doncic’s 45-point performance helped the Lakers wrap up an NBA Playoff spot.
Doncic’s return to Dallas sparked discussion in the NBA world. Doncic cried during the Mavericks’ tribute video before tip-off. Doncic was spotted telling his former Mavericks teammate, Daniel Gafford, “We’ll play again, we’ll play again,” after the game. We’ll see if the Doncic-Gafford duo reappears in the future as Gafford, 26, has one year left on his contract and will make $14.3 million next year.
Doncic could’ve won a few NBA championships in Dallas if Mavericks GM Nico Harrison didn’t trade him to the Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, a 2029 first-round pick from the Lakers, and $55,000 from the Utah Jazz. But the trade is in the past.
Others might follow Vujacic’s lead and decide to compare Doncic to Bryant after Friday night’s 140-109 win over the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena. Doncic shot 13-of-19 from the field and 5-of-9 from the three-point range. He finished with 39 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists. He became the second Laker to post at least 35 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 three-point baskets in back-to-back games. Bryant was the first Laker to achieve the feat from December 15-17, 2006.
