LAKERS NOTEBOOK: VUJACIC WILL GET TIME.

Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer

EL SEGUNDO - December started with Lakers rookie Sasha Vujacic stashed on the injured list and included just four minutes of garbage time in 12 games. But the month hardly could have ended with better news for the Slovenian guard.

Before the Lakers commenced their final practice of 2004 on Friday morning, coach Rudy Tomjanovich pulled aside Vujacic and said he would try to find the first-round pick more minutes in the coming weeks.

``I said his opportunities are coming and to give me the benefit of the doubt,'' Tomjanovich said. ``I'll look for those times when he can get stirred into the soup.''

Added Kobe Bryant: `The only way for him to really learn is just to be thrown out there with the lions anyway. We all have patience, no matter how well he plays or how bad he plays or whatever. But it'll be good for him to get out there and get his feet wet a little bit.''

Vujacic has played 21 minutes all season, a dramatically different introduction to the NBA than he expected. He averaged 30 to 35 minutes per game for Snaidero Udine in Italy's top professional league last season at age 19.

``Coming from the bench, you're just waiting for your opportunity,'' Vujacic said. ``Until now, I was more watching than playing. I'm really excited and I can't wait to get my chance.''

It has been a tough past two months for Vujacic, who withdrew from the 2003 NBA draft and opted to play another season in Italy. He thought that would ready him for an immediate role once he came to the Lakers.

``Step by step, I said I want to come here and help the team,'' Vujacic said. ``I pulled out from the draft last year because I thought that I'm not ready. One year in Europe helped me, and I came here to play, not to watch.''

It hasn't helped that San Antonio rookie Beno Udrih has averaged 6.5 points and 13.9 minutes for the Western Conference's top team this season. Udrih and Vujacic both are Slovenian, played together growing up and were selected in the draft one after the other.

``I watched this week,'' Vujacic said, ``and I was really happy for (Udrih) because he's getting the minutes, he's getting the trust from everybody.''

--Say the word: If Bryant is on his way to another streak of nine 40- point games, as was the case in February 2003, point guard Chucky Atkins' message during warm-ups Dec. 22 will be remembered as the catalyst.

According to Bryant, Atkins asked: ``Man, when can I get, like, a 40 or 50 from you?'' Bryant answered that he was trying to be a facilitator. Atkins response was ``(Bleep) that. You got to get us going.'' Nothing more needed to be said.

Bryant went on to score 29 points against New Orleans, then followed with 42 versus Miami on Christmas and a season-high 48 against Toronto on Tuesday night. He was asked Friday if another streak had started.

``I just put on my aggressive hat,'' Bryant said. ``It took a game for me to really get in rhythm against New Orleans. Then, after that, I just got right back into rhythm. It feels like us as a team are keying off that. So we'll see what happens. I just kind of go with the flow.''

Bryant reported no pain in the left shoulder he twice injured in the first quarter against Toronto. ``(The) shoulder feels great,'' he said, ``like I never even hurt it.''

Ross Siler, [phone]

ross.siler(at)dailynews.com