Restoration cost for defaced Kobe Bryant mural, funded by Luka Doncic.
Ahm, Let's Chat About That Graffiti-ed Mural in L.A.!
The downtown Los Angeles mural depicting the legendary duo, Kobe and Gigi Bryant, has taken ahit. But, fear not, 'cause Luka Doncic has stepped up to the plate and is footin' the bill for the restoration. On Tuesday, Luka plonked down a sweet $5,000 to a GoFundMe page set up by artist Louie Palsino.
Now, ol' Louie's mural titled "Mambas Forever" is all set to get a makeover at the 14th and Main streets. And why you ask? Well, Luka's got a heart of gold. He said after his practice at the Lakers' training facility, "[I] gave back to the community, 'cause they gave me so much, so I just wanna give back."
And Louie seemed pretty stoked about it, rightly sayin', "Luka's representin' us the right way" since day one. He even went on to say, "I'd like to thank Luka and I'm proud he's a Laker now, representin' Los Angeles. I know Kobe's proud."
Again, Kobe's been makin' headlines recently. One of his rookie season's jerseys sold for an astounding $7 million at Sotheby's last week. It's a record-breaker for any of his sports collectibles, and it's a testament to the significance of those debut games in an athlete's career.
This $7 mil jersey now ranks as the fourth most expensive game-worn sports jersey of all time, trailin' behind Babe Ruth's $24 million "called shot", Michael Jordan's $10.1 million "Last Dance" jersey, and Diego Maradona's $9.3 million "Hand of God" Argentina jersey from the 1986 FIFA World Cup.
The donation and the jersey sale demonstrate the undying reverence for Kobe, who spent his entire 20-year career with the purple and gold, and octagon, conquering five championships and becoming the top scorer in club history.
Now, here's a bit of context -- this act of solidarity by Luka shows his bond with fans and a respect for Kobe's legacy. And the mural, first painted days after the 2020 helicopter crash, holds a special emotional weight for the city of L.A. This shows how crucial community involvement is in preserving Kobe's enduring impact.
- Luka Doncic, a Slovenian basketball player, donated $5,000 to a GoFundMe page for the restoration of the downtown Los Angeles mural depicting Kobe and Gigi Bryant, fondly known as "Mambas Forever."
- After the restoration, Louie Palsino, the artist who created the mural, expressed his gratitude, stating, "Luka's representing us the right way since day one."
- Kobe Bryant's rookie season jersey was recently sold for an astounding $7 million, making it the fourth most expensive game-worn sports jersey of all time.
- This massive sale underscores the undying reverence for Kobe, who spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he became the top scorer in club history and helped the team conquer five championships.
- The restoration of the mural and the high-value sale of Kobe's jersey illustrate the importance of community participation in preserving Kobe's lasting impact on sports, particularly basketball and the NBA.
