Vlade Divac reflects on his Lakers journey, crediting Jerry West for shaping his NBA career. He recalls his initial struggles, West’s honesty, his trade for Kobe Bryant, while also sharing fond memories of Lakers superfan Jack Nicholson.
Vlade Divac played for 15 seasons in the NBA, leaving a long-lasting mark since he was one of the first European players to hold an important role in the league.
At the beginning of his NBA career, he played for the Los Angeles Lakers, alongside Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul Jabbar.
Divac was brought to the Lakers by the legendary Jerry West, about whom the former world champion has only words of praise.
"I met him as soon as I landed from Yugoslavia," he told the 'Legends of Sport' podcast.
"He was the man who waited for my wife and me at the airport. I didn't speak English very well and it took me six months to start talking a little more with him. Since then he has been part of my family, just like I am his."
Divac, only 21 years old in 1989, credits the late former player and executive for "changing his life."
"At that time there were not many European players in the NBA league, I was almost the first to be drafted in the first round and immediately came to the league. West was a genius who had a vision and now in the league 30% of players are not from the States," Divac noted, and also added that as Sacramento's general manager, he called him for advice.
"He gave me a chance. I liked that he was honest and always spoke his mind," he argued.
West eventually traded him to Charlotte for Kobe Bryant on draft night in 1996.
"Charlotte drafted the guy Jerry told them to draft. I wasn't happy, I thought I was going to retire," he revealed.
"He knew where I was coming from, we had a long talk and he made me feel good about the trade. He told me he understood me, but to go to Charlotte at least for a couple of days to see how it was. I believed him, and even then he told me that Kobe would be amazing."
Divac spoke about the Jack Nicholson, one of the biggest Lakers fans who regularly attended games at the Forum.
"I have many memories of him. He is a true and eternal fan of the Los Angeles Lakers. I grew up in Europe watching a lot of movies and then suddenly in an NBA game, you see people you know who are sitting right next to you and cheering for you," he recounted.
"On one occasion, the Lakers called me to shoot from half court for humanitarian purposes, I hit it, and Jack was the first to congratulate me."
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