After finding out about a fundraiser to help restore a mural of Gianna and Kobe Bryant, Luka Dončić stepped up in a big way.
Despite only recently coming to Los Angeles, Luka Dončić’s connection to Kobe Bryant far predates him becoming a Laker. Highlighted by the pair sharing a moment during a visit to Crypto.com Arena from Bryant after his retirement, Luka clearly had a relationship with Kobe.
So, when Luka recently came across a GoFundMe raising money to restore a mural of Kobe and Gianna, he made a fairly simple, but impactful decision. The fundraiser had a goal of $5,000, which Luka donated himself.
Luka Doncic has made a generous contribution to help restore the vandalized Kobe and Gianna Bryant mural
Via @kobemurals pic.twitter.com/5x4fYhNbz4
— Kobe Bryant Stories & Motivation (@kobehighlight) April 29, 2025
After practice on Tuesday, Luka spoke about what led him to make the donation.
“It was always important to give back to the community that gave me so much,” Luka said. “So, I just want to give back.”
For Luka, this is a really small gesture. Five thousand dollars is a drop in the bucket for a player making $43 million just on his NBA contract this season.
However, those murals mean a lot more than just paintings on a wall for Lakers fans both in LA and worldwide. And Luka might even be part of that crowd, too.
If he wants to give back to the community in Los Angeles, there are probably fewer things that would endear him more than helping paint a Kobe and Gianna mural.
Kobe clearly meant a great deal to Luka, as he did to the city of Los Angeles. Seeing him help keep the memory of Kobe and Gianna alive and well is really, really cool.
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.