Former Los Angeles Lakers guard Sasha Vujacic has revealed an unusual tactic he and NBA legend Kobe Bryant used to gain an advantage over opponents during games.
As reported by İdman.Biz, the two-time NBA champion shared the story on the Out The Mud podcast, hosted by former NBA players Tony Allen and Zach Randolph.
Vujacic recalled how he and Bryant would switch to Italian whenever opposing defenders tried to listen to their conversations on the court.
"When we played against them, Tony was the guy who would come over and listen to what Kobe and I were saying on the court. So we started speaking Italian. They were like, 'What? What's he talking about?'" Vujacic explained.
Allen, who was known for his defensive skills throughout his NBA career, immediately confirmed the story.
"I knew it! I knew it! I was thinking, 'Bro, they were just speaking English on defense, and when they go on offense, they start talking in a completely different language,'" Allen responded.
Both Bryant and Vujacic had strong connections to Italy, making the tactic particularly effective.
Bryant spent part of his childhood in Italy, where his father, former NBA player Joe Bryant, continued his professional basketball career. Growing up in the country allowed Kobe to become fluent in Italian, a language he continued speaking throughout his life.
Vujacic, meanwhile, played for Italian club Snaidero Udine before joining the NBA. The Slovenian shooting guard represented the Lakers from 2004 to 2010 and won two consecutive NBA championships alongside Bryant in 2009 and 2010.
Interestingly, Allen was a member of the Boston Celtics team that defeated the Lakers in the 2008 NBA Finals. However, Bryant and Vujacic got their revenge two years later, when Los Angeles beat Boston in a dramatic seven-game championship series in 2010.
The story offers another glimpse into Bryant's competitive mindset and his willingness to use even his language skills to gain a psychological and tactical edge over opponents.
