In December 2019 a brief courtside exchange between a rising NBA star and a basketball legend captivated the internet. During a sideline out-of-bounds play, Luka Dončić—then a young standout for the Dallas Mavericks—was surprised to hear someone heckling him in his native language, Slovenian. When he turned around, he was stunned to see it was none other than Kobe Bryant. The two exchanged smiles and shared a moment post-game that fans would never forget. Six years later, Dončić now wears a Lakers jersey and has quickly endeared himself to the fanbase, all while paying tribute to the late, great Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gigi.

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Who is LukaDončić?

Luka Dončić has been playing professional basketball since the age of 16. A Slovenian native, he showed incredible talent from a young age—by 11, he was playing against opponents four years older. At 13, he made the life-changing decision to leave home and play for Real Madrid’s under-16 team in Spain. Within just three years, he proved he could compete with fully grown professionals.

During his four-year career in Spain, Dončić was named to the EuroLeague Rising Star team twice. He also earned the EuroLeague MVP title and led his team to a EuroLeague championship in 2018.

In the 2018 NBA Draft, Dončić was selected by the Atlanta Hawks and traded on draft night to the Dallas Mavericks. He continued to dominate in the NBA, earning Rookie of the Year honors in 2019, becoming a five-time All-Star, and winning the NBA scoring title in 2024.

Check out some of his incredible highlights here:

The Blockbuster Trade

On the night of February 2, 2025, a three-team trade between the Mavericks, Lakers, and Jazz sent shockwaves through the NBA. The Mavericks traded Luka Dončić, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris to the Lakers in exchange for nine-time All-Star and NBA champion Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick. The Jazz received two second-round picks and point guard Jalen Hood-Schifino.

After leading the Mavericks to the NBA Finals just last season, Dončić—only 26 years old—seemed like an untradeable asset. Players around the league were just as stunned as the fans.

One anonymous NBA player told The Athletic that his first reaction was disbelief:

“I thought it was a joke. Thought it was a prank.”

Another player called the trade:

“Psychotic. It didn’t make sense. I don’t know how you make it make sense.”

In his short time with the Lakers this season, Dončić averaged 28.2 points, 7 rebounds, and just under 6 assists over 28 games. Despite those strong numbers—and teaming up with LeBron James and former teammate-turned-Lakers-head-coach JJ Redick—the Lakers fell to the Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs in five games.

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Preserving a Legacy

Even in a short span, Dončić has already made an impact that goes beyond basketball. On April 29, a mural of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gigi was vandalized. The artist behind the piece needed $5,000 to repair the damage and turned to GoFundMe for help.

To his surprise, the full amount was donated in one gift—by Luka Dončić himself.

Along with the donation, Dončić included a message:

“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.”

Although $5,000 may not seem like much in the context of an NBA salary, this gesture wasn’t about the money. It was about restoring the image of an icon—someone who inspired countless people within the sport and far beyond it. More than anything, it’s a reminder of the positive impact one person can have on an entire city.

That’s something truly worth celebrating.