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Luka Doncic donates to restore defaced Kobe, Gigi Bryant mural

IMG_0985by:Griffin McVeigh•04/29/25•

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Luka Doncic
Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images

Not many athletes are as loved as Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles. One of the all-time great basketball players, let alone a Lakers legend, Bryant is still a big part of the city following his passing. Plenty of tributes have been put up over the past five years.

Unfortunately, one mural of Bryant and his daughter, Gigi, was recently defaced. A GoFundMe was set up to help pay what it would cost to restore the piece of art. Not too long later, the entire amount was fulfilled by a current Laker — Luka Doncic.

“A tribute to Kobe and Gigi Bryant was defaced with graffiti … with the mural becoming a canvas for an apparent beef between street artists,” TMZ said via X. “But #TMZSports has learned Luka Doncic has donated $5,000 to help restore the mural.”

Doncic has not been in Los Angeles for too long, being traded away from the Dallas Mavericks on Feb. 1. However, he has always been a fan of Bryant. There is a famous story where Bryant was once sitting courtside, and when Doncic was inbounding the ball, Bryant spoke Slovenian to trash-talk the then-Maverick. Doncic was confused before turning around and seeing Bryant.

Nobody will be a bigger face of the Laker franchise over the next five to 10 years than Doncic. As if Lakers fans did not already love him, helping get a mural back of Kobe and Gigi only helps.

Luka Doncic hoping to overcome 3-1 series deficit to Minnesota Timberwolves

Looking back on the court, there is quite a mountain for Doncic to climb in his first season with the Lakers. The Minnesota Timberwolves have gotten out to an incredible 3-1 series lead, mostly due to the brilliance of Anthony Edwards. While not an impossible challenge, a tough journey is ahead.

Doncic has been great in the series, at least from a statistical standpoint. He has at least 30 points in three of the four games, averaging 30.8 points per game. The Game 2 win saw Doncic nearly record a triple-double with 31 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists.

A performance like that is going to be needed over the course of the next three games if the Lakers are going to advance. Wednesday night will bring Game 5 from Crypto.com Arena. Minnesota will be going for the closeout while Los Angeles will be desperate to hit the road once again on Friday.