"They’re gonna be after you": Luka Doncic reveals Kobe Bryant’s unforgettable warning as he begins his first full season with Los Angeles Lakers

Luka Doncic is stepping into his first full season with the Los Angeles Lakers, but he isn’t doing it alone. In his mind, he still carries a memory that’s stuck with him from the very beginning.

Before he ever played an NBA game, Kobe Bryant pulled him aside with a blunt message about what was coming. Now, as Doncic prepares to lead the Lakers forward, he’s looking back on those words and the unforgettable moments he shared with the late legend.

Kobe Bryant’s unforgettable advice still guiding Luka Doncic in his Los Angeles Lakers journey

In a conversation with The Wall Street Journal, Luka Doncic recalled his first meeting with Kobe Bryant before his rookie campaign. The moment was brief but unforgettable. “I remember meeting him the first time before I started my NBA season, there was one thing he said, ‘Watch out, you’re European.

They’re gonna be after you.’ And he was right.”

Those words, sharp and to the point, became a compass for Doncic as he navigated the pressures of stardom. For a young European star entering the NBA spotlight, Bryant’s foresight captured both the skepticism Doncic would encounter and the resilience he would need to succeed.The bond deepened later on the court in a way Doncic still marvels at. “First of all, he was trash talking me in my language so I kinda was surprised,” he said, recalling an exchange that made him pause mid-game.

“I just looked over and it was Kobe – a surreal moment that I’ll never forget.”It wasn’t just trash talk for the sake of it. That was the Black Mamba’s way of sizing him up. For Doncic, hearing Kobe come at him in his own language wasn’t just surprising. It felt like recognition, like a sign that he belonged. Kobe built his career on toughness and an unrelenting drive to compete. Even years after his passing, that energy still lingers in the league, pushing players like Doncic to rise to the standard he set.

Luka Doncic and LeBron James leading a new Los Angeles Lakers era with echoes of Kobe Bryant’s Mamba mentality

Those memories are landing at a time when the Lakers are writing a new chapter. In February, they shocked the league by sending Anthony Davis to Dallas in exchange for Doncic. The move instantly reset the direction of the team, pairing the Slovenian guard with LeBron James and linking the franchise’s history with its future.Since then, the Lakers have added Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart, and Jake LaRavia to round out the roster. The goal has been obvious: build depth and give their two stars the right support.

In August, Doncic doubled down on his commitment, signing a three-year, 165 million extension with a player option in 2028, confirming that he is the face of this new era.But with opportunity comes immense expectation. Los Angeles was bounced in the first round of last year’s playoffs, and in a Western Conference stacked with contenders like Denver, Oklahoma City, and Houston, the margin for error is slim. The season begins October 21 at Crypto.com Arena, with Doncic and James facing Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and the Golden State Warriors, a stage fitting of the spotlight that comes with wearing Lakers gold.Doncic’s journey to Los Angeles is more than just a high-profile trade. It is the continuation of a path he was warned would be filled with obstacles, and the embrace of a legacy that still defines the Lakers today. As the franchise resets around him and LeBron James, the lessons and presence of Kobe Bryant remain a guiding force. For Doncic, the fight is no longer about proving that he belongs in the NBA. It is about living up to the weight of expectations in Los Angeles, a city and a franchise defined by champions.Also Read: 'I don't think so' - Luka Doncic has no plans to follow the footsteps of his fellow Los Angeles Lakers teammate LeBron James