Former Los Angeles Lakers guard Sasha Vujacic recently weighed in on the greatest of all time debate, and unsurprisingly, he had strong praise for two of the most iconic shooting guards in NBA history. Appearing on the Out The Mud podcast, Vujacic shared his thoughts on who holds the title of the GOAT, placing Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant at the top of his list.
“Kobe is my big brother. When we’re talking about basketball, in my opinion, MJ‑Kobe—MJ and Kobe are right here; like, this is MJ, Kobe—this is the GOAT for me.”
For Vujacic, the debate isn’t about comparing resumes or championships alone. It’s about mentality, work ethic, and the sheer obsession with mastering the game, traits both Jordan and Bryant shared at an elite level.
Having played alongside Kobe during the Lakers’ championship runs in 2009 and 2010, Vujacic saw firsthand the relentless preparation and drive that defined Bryant’s career. That personal connection, coupled with admiration for Jordan’s iconic reign in the 1990s, makes Vujacic’s dual pick less surprising and more of a tribute to what he calls “the true essence of greatness.”
While LeBron James has often been placed in the GOAT conversation for his longevity, versatility, and statistical brilliance, Vujacic didn’t mention the Lakers star in his top-two.
That omission is notable, especially given Vujacic’s ties to the franchise and the fact that LeBron now leads the team that Vujacic once helped to title glory. For Sasha, the Jordan-Bryant lineage simply stands apart.
However, Vujacic also gave a nod to the present and future of basketball, particularly from a European perspective. When asked who the greatest European player is, he didn’t hesitate to crown Nikola Jokic for now, but left the door open for another name to rise.
“If Nikola is the European GOAT, I think it’s going to be the battle between him and Luka in the next few years.”
Jokic, a three-time MVP and NBA champion with the Denver Nuggets, has redefined the modern center with his passing wizardry, post footwork, and unselfish play.
Meanwhile, Luka Doncic, now starring for the Los Angeles Lakers after a shocking midseason trade, continues to ascend as one of the league’s most skilled offensive forces. The Slovenian superstar is still in the early stages of his prime, but his resume already places him on a historic trajectory.
Vujacic, himself Slovenian-Italian, has long had pride in European basketball, and his comments reflect a growing sentiment around the league that the game’s global landscape is shifting. With Jokic and Doncic leading the way, the NBA’s next GOAT conversation may soon have international roots.
While the debate over the GOAT will always remain subjective, Sasha Vujacic’s perspective adds a unique voice to the discussion—one grounded in both firsthand championship experience and deep respect for the mentality that separates legends from greats. For him, it begins and ends with Jordan and Kobe.
