3. Defensive Tenacity
Sasha Vujacic isn’t going to make an All-Defensive Team any time soon. Just because he isn’t a traditional lockdown defender, however, doesn’t mean that he’s devoid of value on the defensive end of the floor.
Whether he’s in practice or an actual game, Vujacic can make a positive impact both for his teammates and against his opponents.
Throughout his career, Vujacic has become a master at getting under his opponents’ skin and into their heads. He gets physical on defense, which is a major reason why Phil Jackson brought him to the New York Knicks.
Though he may not shut a player down, he doesn’t tire or relent in his physicality and trash talk.
Courtney Lee and Justin Holiday are the players who are being tasked with developing into New York’s lead defenders. It’s comforting to know, however, that in the event of injury or foul trouble, Vujacic can provide a similar impact in small doses.
Vujacic has his areas of weakness, but his defensive tenacity is a genuine strength of his.
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