While everyone knows about Sasha Vujacic’s desire to win the NBA Championship with the Lakers this year, he also has a second championship goal: the EuroBasket. Sasha recently signed on to represent his native country, Slovenia, in the 2009 EuroBasket, which will be held in Poland. It will be his first time playing for Slovenia since he was on the junior national team in 2003. Here, Sasha shares his thoughts on the upcoming tournament.

What made you decide to play for the Slovenian national team this year?

It has been a long time — since 2003 — since I have had contact with the Slovenian national team. Now that I have my place in the NBA with the Lakers, I think it is time to go represent my country as one of their main players. I want to represent my country and I want to win.

Do you know or have you played with any of the other players on the team?

I think it’s going to be interesting because it’s an international team. I have never played with any of them except Beno Udrih who is with the Sacramento Kings now. We played together and against each other for a brief time. We kind of go way back, so it’s going to be fun playing on the same team. But most of all I want to go there in order to win, not to have fun and joke around.

What do you think your role will be on the team?

It’s definitely going to be a different role than I had in 2003 when I made my last appearance with the national team. I’m a different player now. I will take the responsibility on my shoulders and will definitely have a key role.

When will you go over to practice and prepare with the team?

The national team representatives came and visited me in January and explained that I’ll be a really important part of the team. I have to be there on July 22 for the opening of the camp to prepare for the European championship in September.

Do you plan on doing any relaxing or traveling while you are in Europe, or will it be all work?

Going back home, it will definitely be relaxing to see friends and relatives. We’re going to have some days off to enjoy a little bit, but not too much because you don’t want to get out of shape too soon.

Slovenia placed fifth in 2005 and seventh in 2007. What do you think it will take to win this year?

Well, I think they had always set goals just to be fourth or fifth or sixth in order to qualify for the Olympic games. As I see it, with the quality of the national team that we have, we really can win it this time. There’s a lot of competition and a lot of good national teams in Europe. In order to win it, our team must all be on the same page, understand each other, put egos aside and breathe the same goal. Once we accomplish that, we’re in great shape to compete for the best, the highest.

Slovenia is in the competition group with Serbia, Spain and Great Britain. What are your thoughts on these opponents?

I think we have a very tough group but, as I say, in order to be the best, you’ve got to beat the best. Spain has done really well in the past world championships. Serbia has an interesting team, really strong and young. Great Britain, also. The Slovenian team has never played together and all those other teams have an advantage because they’ve played with each other before. We will have a very short time to get to know and understand each other. We all have to be on the same page and feel and breathe basketball together much quicker than any other national team.

Pau Gasol has not confirmed whether he will play for the Spanish national team. If he does, what do you think it will be like to have your Lakers teammate as an opponent?

We’ve been joking around about it and I told him I really want him to play. Whether or not he plays, they are a good team, but with him they are on a different level. I hope he plays and I wish him all the best.

Will you have trouble wearing Slovenia’s green uniform?

[Laughs] I had dinner with the team’s representatives here in L.A. and when I made my decision to play for them, they brought out a green jersey with the number 18 and Vujacic on it. At first I had mixed feelings; I told them I would accept it but I would not put it on or look at it until June. They didn’t understand what I was talking about but after I explained, they were pretty impressed with my decision not to wear green. The jersey is in my closet for now.

Good luck, Sasha! We’re looking forward to celebrating your two championship titles this summer.