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Luka Doncic Laments Absence of Kobe Bryant as He Joins Lakers

Ryan Phillips

Luka Doncic and Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka address the media.
Luka Doncic and Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka address the media. / Via Brad Townsend on X
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Luka Doncic is the latest in a long line of Los Angeles Lakers superstars, but on Tuesday, he lamented the absence of one of his predecessors.

During Doncic's introductory press conference, a reporter reminded him of the time in 2019 when Kobe Bryant was heckling him from the crowd during a Lakers-Dallas Mavericks game. The notable part was that Bryant was speaking in Slovenian while doing it. The 25-year-old remembered the moment and wished the former Lakers great, and his daughter Gigi, had been in attendance today.

"Well, first of all, I remember that that happened, it will always stay in my mind," Doncic said. "It was an amazing moment, just for Kobe to know my name was amazing for me. I just wish Kobe and Gigi were here to see this moment."

LeBron James took the torch of the Lakers franchise from Bryant, and now Doncic is next in line. His connection to the late, great Lakers superstar shows the impact Bryant had on so many NBA players.

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Ryan Phillips
RYAN PHILLIPS

Ryan Phillips is a senior writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He has worked in digital media since 2009, spending eight years at The Big Lead before joining SI in 2024. Phillips also co-hosts The Assembly Call Podcast about Indiana Hoosiers basketball and previously worked at Bleacher Report. He is a proud San Diego native and a graduate of Indiana University’s journalism program.

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