Lakers’ Luka Doncic Pays Entire GoFundMe to Restore Kobe and Gianna Bryant Mural

On a sad, overcast day in Los Angeles history, then-41-year-old Lakers Hall of Fame shooting guard Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, and seven other souls perished in a Calabasas, California helicopter accident.

In the intervening half-decade, murals, statues, and other monuments to both Bryants have popped up all over the world. Per Emmanuel Morgan and Matt Stevens of The New York Times, there are over 600 murals celebrating Kobe and Gianna Bryant spanning the globe.

More Los Angeles Lakers News: Kobe and Gianna Bryant Mural in Los Angeles Vandalized in Random Act

It was a shock for many to discover on Tuesday morning that one such commemorative image, in downtown Los Angeles of all places (the location of Bryant’s longtime home arena, called the Staples Center in his era), had been defaced by graffiti, per Joseph Serna and Nathan Solis of The Los Angeles Times.

A GoFundMe was set up to pay for a restoration of the mural, located at 1361 Main Street in downtown Los Angeles, and credited to artist Loui “Sloe” Motion.

Now, apparently, a currently Lakers star has stepped up to the plate in a big way.

Five-time All-NBA First Team guard Luka Doncic has opted to donate the entire $5,000 being requested in the GoFundMe.

“Kobe is L.A. He and Gigi mean so much to this city, to the Lakers organization and to me personally,” Doncic said of his donation. “I’m happy to do anything to help make sure he and his daughter are honored.”

This story will be updated…