Time stood still in Los Angeles on Jan. 26, 2020, when news broke that Lakers Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, passed away in a helicopter crash, along with seven others. Fans gathered at Staples Center (now known as Crypto.com Arena) to grieve Bryant.
There are numerous murals in and around LA of Kobe, including one on a building at 14th and Main in downtown. The artist, Louie "Sloe" Motions, finished the mural in 2020, making it one of the first in the area. It had remained untouched since then until recently.
The Kobe and Gigi mural was vandalized this week, and a GoFundMe was set up to help the artist restore it. On Tuesday, the Luka Doncic Foundation donated the full amount requested, $5,000.
Luka Doncic donated $5,000 to help restore a vandalized mural of Kobe and Gigi in LA 👏
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 29, 2025
(via @kobemurals) pic.twitter.com/kPtZbCs8Fd
Luka Doncic donates $5,000 to restore Kobe and Gigi mural in LA
Doncic released the following statement about his donation to restore the mural:
“Kobe is L.A. He and Gigi mean so much to this city, to the Lakers organization and to me personally,” Doncic said Tuesday through a representative. “I’m happy to do anything to help make sure he and his daughter are honored.”
Over two months ago, nobody thought the Mavericks would ever trade Luka, much less to the Lakers. Doncic wanted to spend his entire career in Dallas, but Nico Harrison had other plans. Luka was blindsided by the trade (along with everyone else), but he couldn't have ended up in a better situation.
Doncic is a superstar and belongs in LA. He already captured the hearts of the fan base, and donating to restore the Kobe mural will make him even more beloved in LA. After Luka was traded to LA, he said he wished Kobe and GiGi could've been there.
The Lakers' answer to what they'd do when LeBron retired fell in their lap with Luka. LA couldn't have dreamed up a better player to be in purple and gold than Luka. He didn't think he'd ever leave Texas, but he fits in well in LA.
The goal is for Luka to win a title (preferably more than one) with the Lakers, which would mark his first championship. It'd be special to have Kobe and Gigi courtside for that moment, but there's no doubt that Luka will feel their presence if (when) that moment comes.