The NBA is full of unforgettable moments, but some of the most entertaining ones happen off the court. Recently, Tony Allen and Sasha Vujačić reminisced about a hilarious incident involving Kobe Bryant’s linguistic skills during a game.
During a heated matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Memphis Grizzlies, Kobe Bryant and Sasha Vujačić decided to use their shared knowledge of Italian to gain an edge. Bryant, who spent part of his childhood in Italy, was fluent in the language, while Vujačić, a Slovenian player, also spoke Italian. The duo began conversing in Italian on the court, leaving Grizzlies defender Tony Allen completely baffled.
Allen, known for his tenacious defense recently admitted that he had no idea what the two were saying.
“I knew it! I promise you, I knew it,” Allen said. “I’m like ‘bro, they just said something in english on the defensive end, they get on the offensiv end, and they’re speaking a whole other language.”
That time Kobe and Sasha Vujačić spoke in Italian to confuse TA 😭 pic.twitter.com/ZHcHLSQVSf
— Out The Mud Podcast (@OutTheMudTL) April 11, 2025
While the exact details of Bryant and Vujačić’s Italian exchange remain unknown, Vujačić has shared that the duo often used the language to communicate during games.
“Kobe and I would speak in Italian sometimes, just to mess with people,” Vujačić previously said. “It was our little secret weapon.”
The story is just one of many that highlight Kobe Bryant’s unique approach to the game. Known for his relentless work ethic and attention to detail, Bryant was always looking for ways to gain an advantage. Whether it was through his mastery of multiple languages or his ability to read defenses, Bryant’s ingenuity set him apart as one of the greatest players of all time.
