Aleksandar "Sasha" Vujačić is a Slovenian professional basketball player who currently
plays for Reyer Venezia Mestre of the Lega Basket Serie A.
Throughout his career, he has also played in Italy, in Turkey and in the United States.
Though he has played the point guard position in Europe, he found more playing time at the
shooting guard spot while in the Lakers' triangle offense.
Early career Vujačić's father, Vaso, is a Serbian basketball
coach.
From 1998 to 2000, Vujačić played for the Polzela junior team.
In 2000–01, he played for the Snaidero Udine junior team.
Vujačić was a member of the Slovenian junior national team, winning a silver medal at the
2002 European Junior Championship.
Professional career Italy
From 2001 to 2004, Vujačić played for Snaidero Udine of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A.
Los Angeles Lakers Vujačić was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers
with the 27th overall pick in the 2004 NBA draft.
On July 20, 2004, he signed a multi-year deal with the Lakers.
On November 29, 2007, Vujačić recorded a then-career high 22 points in a win over the
Denver Nuggets.
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 in a single season.
However, Vladimir Radmanović broke that record in 2008–09 with 44.1%.
During game 3 of the 2008 NBA Finals, Vujačić scored a career playoff high 20 points off
the bench.
Vujačić's 20, with the exception of Kobe Bryant, made him the only Laker to score in
double figures.
In July 2008, he switched agents to Rob Pelinka.
On July 28, 2008, Vujačić re-signed with the Lakers to a multi-year deal.
In Game 6 of the 2010 NBA Finals, Vujačić led the Lakers' bench with nine points, including
two three-pointers.
With 11 seconds left in Game 7 and the Lakers leading by only two points, Vujačić helped
secure the Lakers' championship with two crucial free throws.
New Jersey Nets On December 15, 2010, Vujačić was traded
to the New Jersey Nets in a three-team trade involving the Lakers and Houston Rockets.
On the Nets, Vujačić reunited with former Lakers teammate Jordan Farmar.
In his debut for the Nets, Vujačić had 6 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists in 27 minutes
of play.
On January 1, 2011, Vujačić tied his career high of 22 points, eight games after being
traded to the Nets.
On February 9, 2011, Vujačić set a new career high with 25 points in a win over the Hornets.
Anadolu Efes In July 2011, he signed a two-year contract
with Anadolu Efes.
In his first Euroleague season, over 16 games as a starter, he averaged 13.9 points and
3.3 rebounds per game.
On August 6, 2012, it was confirmed that Vujačić would stay with the team for one more season.
On November 16, in a Euroleague game against EA7 Milano, he scored 29 points, helping his
team win 77–71.
Over 10 regular season games, he had 12.8 points and 2.7 rebounds per game.
Vujačić and his teammate Jordan Farmar helped Efes to advance to the Top 16 round, edging
Cedevita on the road by 81–73 in one of the most crucial games in group C.
Los Angeles Clippers On February 3, 2014, Vujačić signed a 10-day
contract with the Los Angeles Clippers.
He did not sign a second 10-day contract with Clippers after his first 10-day contract expired.
Reyer Venezia Mestre On March 25, 2014, he signed with Reyer Venezia
Mestre for the rest of the 2013–14 season.
Career statistics Euroleague
NBA regular season NBA Playoffs
Personal life Vujačić was born in Maribor, Slovenia, to
a Serbian father and Slovenian mother.
His father was a Serbian basketball coach, while his mother was a Slovenian volleyball
player.
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.
His parents divorced when he was 6, and he lived with his mother and soon afterwards
with his stepfather.
He has two siblings, a sister named Nina, and a brother named Aljoša.
In addition to playing basketball, he enjoys volleyball, tennis, and association football.
He was once engaged to professional tennis player Maria Sharapova, but the two separated
in 2012.
References
External links Official Site
Sasha Vujačić on Twitter Euroleague.net Profile
TBLStat.net Profile Career statistics and player information from
NBA.com Sasha Vujacic at Basketball-Reference.com