Former Lakers champion favorably compares ex-Maverick Luka Doncic to Kobe Bryant

Don't show this clip to Nico Harrison, he might have a breakdown.

Apr 9, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) reacts after scoring against the Dallas Mavericks during the second quarter at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images / Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

The Dallas Mavericks are coming off a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, as Luka Doncic returned to the American Airlines Center to put up an efficient 45 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals. That has turned up the intensity on the shocking trade that took place over two months ago, as people still can't believe Nico Harrison and the Mavericks would be dumb enough to pull off this trade.

But they did, and they're going to have to live with the consequences of it for the rest of their hopefully short NBA executive careers. The Mavericks swear they traded Doncic away because they didn't like his work ethic or his commitment to the game, or in other words, he didn't have the "Mamba Mentality" that Kobe Bryant possessed. And Nico Harrison spent years inside Kobe Bryant's inside circle as an executive at Nike. But one former teammate of Bryant's, who won two championships with him, sees similarities between Doncic and Bryant.

READ MORE: Mavericks' Jason Kidd catching heat over dumb Luka Doncic-Babe Ruth trade comments

Apr 9, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) dribbles during the second quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images / Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Two-time NBA Champion with the LA Lakers and a Slovenian native, Sasha Vujacic, made a recent appearance on the "Out the Mud" podcast and discussed Doncic. "[He's] incredible... When he first got to the league, what was it, six years ago? I think Mark Stein or somebody called me and they're like, 'What do you think about him, he comes from the same country,' and a couple of them called me and I said, 'I'll be honest, I watch him play, and he might be the only one that reminds me a little bit more than anybody else of Kobe.' The reason being, he plays with a smile, he understands the geometry on a basketball court very well, he's talented, but there's something in his eyes that when he plays the game of basketball, it's just that killer, killer thing that he has. Like he can smell blood, like Kobe always said... You can see that he's still young, but I think he's got something of my big bro there, and the way we got him, I think also Kobe might have had something to do with it because of Nico and [Rob Pelinka]. But he's special, he's definitely special, and I think if he stays on the right path, and I think he will, there's quite a few championships ahead of him."

Sasha Vujačić says Luka Dončić reminded him of Kobe when he entered the league. pic.twitter.com/rTCEntdPP9

— Luka Updates (@LukaUpdates) April 10, 2025

Doncic was likely on his way to winning a few championships in Dallas if Nico Harrison hadn't shipped him off. They were just coming off an NBA Finals appearance and built the best team around him this offseason that he'd had. To trade him away with no trade request, no warning, and in the middle of the night will never make sense to anyone who covers the league.

READ MORE: Raptors sign former Maverick ahead of matchup in Dallas

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