When the Lakers traded for Luka Doncic, they knew they were getting a generational talent – a cornerstone player to lead the franchise into the next era. There were initial concerns about how Doncic would adjust to his new surroundings, especially since he didn’t ask for the trade from Dallas. But at 26, he’s starting to settle in and get comfortable in his new role with the purple and gold.
Now, wearing the jersey of legends like Kobe Bryant, Doncic is stepping into a legacy rich environment. And according to former Lakers guard and fellow Slovenian Sasha Vujacic, Doncic’s game is Mamba like.
Sasha Vujacic’s Bold Comparison: Doncic and Kobe Share a “Killer Instinct”
Vujacic recently appeared on the Out The Mud Podcast and compared Doncic to Bryant. Though they never played together, Vujacic sees something in Doncic that reminds him of his former teammate:
“He’s incredible… We don’t know each other; we know of each other. When he first got to the league six years ago, people would call me and ask what I thought about him since we’re from the same country. I would say, ‘I’ll be honest, when I watch him play, he might be the only one who reminds me a little bit more than anybody else of Kobe.’”
So what makes Doncic like Bryant? According to Vujacic, it’s not just skill—it’s mindset:
“The reason being, he plays with a smile, understands the geometry on a basketball court very well and is incredibly talented. But there’s something in his eyes when he plays—this killer instinct. Like Kobe always said, ‘I can smell blood.’ You can see that in Luka too. He’s still young, but I think he carries some of my big brother Kobe in him.”
Vujacic also hinted that fate had something to do with Doncic ending up in L.A., crediting the Lakers’ front office to the late Bryant:
“The way we got him, I think Kobe might have had something to do with it because of Nico [Hurst] and [Rob Pelinka]. Let’s just be honest. But he’s special—he’s definitely special—and if he stays on the right path, which I believe he will, there are quite a few championships ahead of him.”
Doncic’s Game: A Modern-Day Reflection of Bryant’s Legacy
While Doncic’s personality is different from Bryant’s, they both have that competitive juice. Doncic loves high stakes, whether it’s trash talking opponents or performing under pressure. He takes over games like Bryant used to in his prime.
No one has performed better in the playoffs in recent years than Doncic. Now that he’s on the Lakers, fans can get to see a superstar who embodies the same never give up attitude that defined Bryant’s career.
Dorian Finney-Smith on Doncic’s Impact: A Legacy Beyond Basketball
When Doncic returned to Dallas after the trade, the fans gave him a standing ovation. Dorian Finney-Smith said it was well deserved:
“Luka changed the culture in Dallas. What he did for that organization goes beyond stats. Fans showed their love and it was real.”
That’s why Doncic is already one of the most impactful players of his generation. Whether in Dallas or LA, his impact goes beyond the court.
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