Photos of the vandalism surfaced online Monday, showing the vibrant mural defaced with large, white graffiti bubble letters—an act that devastated fans across the city and the globe. The Instagram page @Kobemural, which tracks tributes to the Bryant legacy, shared the damage with the caption: “Unfortunately one of the first Kobe and Gigi murals has been vandalized in Downtown Los Angeles.”In response, the community mobilized immediately with a GoFundMe campaign. Now, Dončić’s contribution will cover a significant portion of the restoration efforts, which include protective paint to shield the mural from future damage.
Artist Louie “Sloe” Motions, who painted the original mural in 2020, said it had remained untouched until this recent act. “As in life, unfortunate situations will always arise,” he told the Los Angeles Times, “but it’s all about how we rebound from those situations.”
And rebound, they have.
Upon hearing of Dončić’s gift, Motions expressed both gratitude and admiration. “I’d like to say thank you to Luka,” he said. “I’m proud he is a Laker now and representing Los Angeles. I know Kobe is proud. This alone will have him in the hearts of everyone in L.A.”
Dončić, who recently wrapped up his first season with the Lakers, has quickly embraced the city’s culture and the legacy of the players who came before him. In stepping up to preserve a powerful tribute to Kobe and Gigi, he’s shown a deep understanding of what it means to wear purple and gold.
Murals honoring Bryant can be found all over L.A.—on storefronts, alleyways, and buildings—standing as emotional markers of a life cut short and a legend that lives on.
Thanks to Dončić’s donation, one of the city’s most iconic pieces of that legacy is already on its way to being restored. And in doing so, Luka isn’t just helping repaint a wall—he’s reinforcing the bond between a city, its heroes, and the next generation of stars who dare to honor them.
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