The Los Angeles Lakers were able to acquire Luka Doncic in a shocking trade with the Dallas Mavericks before the deadline, giving them a superstar to build around for years to come.
The last time the Lakers have a global superstar like Doncic that has not yet entered his prime was Kobe Bryant. He wound up playing 20 seasons for the team and won five championships, so expectations are obviously high for Doncic, who is coming off his first NBA Finals appearance in Dallas.
Doncic’s relationship with Bryant goes back a while as he grew up idolizing him in Slovenia. As a member of the Mavericks, he met Kobe and his daughter Gianna while attending a Lakers game just weeks before they passed.
During that game, Doncic famously heard someone sitting courtside talking smack to him in Slovenian. When he turned around, of course it was Bryant, who said he learned the language so he could talk trash to former teammate Sasha Vujacic in practice.
That night was captured with a photo of Doncic and Bryant, and now it has been turned into a mural in L.A. on Melrose Ave. with the former being traded to the Lakers:
The new Luka Doncic and Kobe Bryant mural in LA 👀
At 8251 Melrose Ave by artoon_art pic.twitter.com/Meg16KJPa1
— Kobe & Gianna Bryant Murals (@kobemurals) February 17, 2025
The mural depicts the photo of Doncic and Bryant from that night, although Luka is now wearing a gold Lakers jersey instead of a blue Mavericks one.
There is certainly a lot of pressure on Doncic to bring greatness back to the Lakers organization, much like Bryant did in the early 2000s, but if anyone is up for the task, it is the 25-year-old.
Luka Doncic wished Gianna & Kobe Bryant could be at Lakers introductory press conference
When Luka Doncic got traded to the Lakers, once of the first people he thought of was Kobe Bryant. In fact, he mentioned at his introductory press conference that he wishes Bryant and his daughter Gianna could have been there.
“First of all, I remember that exact moment that happened,” Doncic said at his introductory press conference. “It always stayed in my mind. It was an amazing moment, just for Kobe to know my name was amazing for me. I just wish Kobe and Gigi were here to see this moment, and I’m excited about this new journey and happy to be here.”
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