Newly acquired Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić is quickly making an impact off the court, showing support for the local community. While the team navigates its first-round playoff series, Dončić recently stepped up to assist in the restoration of a beloved mural honoring Kobe and Gianna Bryant in Los Angeles, which had been damaged by vandals.
The mural, originally created in 2020 by artist Louie `Sloe` Motions, was unfortunately defaced. The artist publicized the vandalism on social media and launched a GoFundMe campaign with a goal of $5,000 to cover the necessary supplies and paint for the repair work.
According to the GoFundMe page, the largest contribution, totaling exactly $5,000 and thereby meeting the full restoration goal, was made by Luka Dončić.
Speaking through a representative to the L.A. Times, Dončić explained his motivation for the donation: “Kobe is L.A. He and Gigi mean so much to this city, to the Lakers organization and to me personally. I`m happy to do anything to help make sure he and his daughter are honored.”
While a $5,000 donation may be well within the means of an NBA star, the act itself holds significant meaning for the community. It further solidifies Dončić`s connection with the Lakers fanbase and serves as a touching tribute to Kobe Bryant, an iconic figure deeply ingrained in the city`s history and a profound inspiration to a generation of players, including Dončić himself. This gesture is seen as a very positive step in his assimilation into the Lakers organization and Los Angeles.
Jasper Hawthorne