Luka Dončić Honored with Kobe Bryant Mural in LA, Pau Gasol Reacts with Support
Luka Dončić's new mural in LA captures a legendary moment with Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, earning praise from Pau Gasol
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Dončić has already been celebrated with a mural in his new city. The mural, located at 8251 Melrose Avenue and painted by artist Arutyun Gozukuchikyan, captures a memorable interaction between Doni and icon Kobe Bryant from 2019. It creatively transitions Dončić into Lakers gear, symbolizing his new beginning with the iconic basketball team.
Inspired by Dončić’s trade to the Lakers, Gozukuchikyan completed the mural in three days. “Ever since I heard of Luka coming to [the] Lakers, I was itching to do a Lakers mural," the artist told NBC Los Angeles.
The mural has garnered attention beyond the local community, catching the eye of former Lakers star Pau Gasol. He reacted to a post about the mural with two heart emojis in Lakers colors, signaling his approval and affection for the franchise’s new era.
“I always saw Kobe and how he played here,” Dončić said. “He was a legend that we all followed, especially in Europe. Another Pau was here, so of course, I wanted to play here. It's a dream.”
The Lakers, currently fifth in the Western Conference with a 32-20 record, are integrating Dončić at a critical point in the season. LeBron James highlighted the significance of Dončić finding his form.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do. We only had two games so far, and I believe he’s been on a minutes restriction since he came back from the calf,” James said before the NBA All-Star Game. “He hasn’t played since Christmas, I believe. As he continues to get in form, I think we could be really good going down the stretch. But we’ll see what happens.”
Since his arrival, Dončić has averaged 15.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists while playing under a 24-minute restriction. He has been adapting to his new team while managing a recent comeback from a left calf strain. Despite early shooting struggles, he is optimistic about the team's potential.
“I think we can go very far,” Dončić said following the Lakers’ loss against the Jazz. “Obviously, today I felt a little bit rusty, two games in after my injury—turnovers, missed free throws, so I gotta do way better. But now we're approaching this break, so we gotta rest.”
The mural and Dončić’s evolving role symbolize blending the Lakers' illustrious past with its promising future. As Dončić adapts to his new environment, he represents a new chapter in Lakers history, poised to forge his legacy alongside the echoes of Bryant and Gasol.