Luka Doncic honors icon Kobe Bryant at Lakers unveiling... but insists he thought he would never leave Dallas

The newest Los Angeles Laker felt obliged to grant a franchise icon connected his archetypal time with the team.

'I conscionable privation Kobe and Gigi were present to spot this moment,' Luka Doncic said of Kobe Bryant and girl Gianna, who were mislaid on with 7 others successful the tragic 2020 chopper clang successful Southern California.

Doncic's introductory connection struck the close enactment with Lakers fans, who person immortalized some Kobe and Gianna.

'Kobe would've been blessed to spot this feline successful purple and gold,' 1 instrumentality wrote, referring to the Lakers colour scheme.

Doncic is arriving successful Los Angeles aft Saturday night's blockbuster three-team deal that is sending the 25-year-old Slovenian superstar to the Lakers. Power guardant Anthony Davis is going to the Dallas Mavericks, Doncic's erstwhile team, on defender Max Christie and a aboriginal first-round pick. Meanwhile the Utah Jazz received Jalen Hood-Schifino from the Lakers, the LA Clippers' 2025 second-round prime and the Mavs' 2025 second-round selection. 

The woody was a shock to conscionable astir everyone from LeBron James and Lakers coaches, to dumbfounded Mavs fans, and adjacent Doncic himself. The 6-foot-7 constituent defender reportedly purchased a $15 cardinal Texas location recently, and admitted connected Tuesday helium ne'er envisioned leaving Dallas. 

'I thought I was gonna enactment my full vocation there,' Doncic said Tuesday. 'Loyalty is simply a large connection for me… But I got the water here. I get to play for the Lakers. Not galore get to accidental that.' 

As for erstwhile Doncic volition marque his Lakers debut, the All-Star remains hampered by a calf issue. 

Speaking to reporters successful Los Angeles connected Tuesday, Lakers wide manager Rob Pelinka said the squad volition enactment with Doncic's idiosyncratic trainers and selling unit to guarantee helium returns to the tribunal safely. 

'We person 5 connected 5 scheduled time for Luka,' Pelinka said. 'We’re gonna instrumentality it 1 time astatine a time.'

Doncic was besides asked astir playing for Lakers manager JJ Reddick, a one-time teammate of his connected the Mavericks... and a erstwhile podcast host.

'You don't spot maine going podcasts,' Doncic said. 'I went connected his podcast twice, truthful you cognize however overmuch respect I person for him. So I'm truly excited that I tin play for him.'

Reddick hosted the fashionable show, Old Man and the Three, anterior to becoming the Lakers caput manager earlier the 2024-25 season.