Murals honoring Kobe Bryant's history in Los Angeles have come to represent the city's love for the basketball great. However, a recent painting in the center of Los Angeles pays new homage to Kobe Bryant as well as Luka Doncic, a player who many fans think has the potential to be the next Laker great.
After the 25-year-old player was recently traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, the painting was made by artist Arutyun Gozukuchikyan in his honor. It also beautifully honors the relationship between Kobe Bryant and Doncic by preserving a special moment from the 2019 campaign in which Bryant and Doncic gave each other a high five following a game.
Art that honors the Lakers and its players is nothing new to Gozukuchikyan, who immigrated to the United States from Armenia when he was five years old. Following Kobe and Gianna Bryant's untimely death in 2020, he created one of the first murals of them. But more than just his own love for the Lakers, his most recent artwork captures the enthusiasm of supporters who are now anxiously awaiting Doncic's influence on the team's future.
The Mural: A Vision in Color and Tribute
The mural, which is situated on Melrose Avenue, a short drive from Crypto.com Arena, depicts Doncic wearing his new Lakers jersey. It is based on a famous scene from a game in December 2019 when Bryant teasingly heckled Doncic in Slovenian in the middle of the game before grinning and giving him a high five. The mural captures Bryant and Doncic grinning after their interaction.
The vivid color scheme of Gozukuchikyan's painting reflects the sunset tones of the Los Angeles sky at the time the source image was taken. The pink wall across the street from the mural and the natural beauty of L.A. sunsets prompted Gozukuchikyan's artistic decision to use a wide range of colors inspired by the surrounding environment, rather than sticking with his original intention for a more neutral Lakers-themed design.
Though the original photograph of Bryant showed him wearing an orange WNBA hoodie and a green Philadelphia Eagles beanie, Gozukuchikyan chose to change his wardrobe to integrate purple and gold, reflecting the Lakers' famous color scheme. The mural uses more than 100 cans of paint and is nearly totally spray-painted, demonstrating the artist's commitment to capture the spirit of the occasion.
The Viral Moment
Gozukuchikyan's mural soon became well-known as he worked on it. The painting immediately gained a lot of attention after the artist shared pictures of it on social media, even though he hadn't anticipated it would become popular until it was finished. Spectators and admirers gathered to Melrose Avenue, some of them traveling more than fifty miles to have a close-up look at the artwork.
"I think Kobe brings more of the emotional part, but Luka is very loved," Gozukuchikyan noted, noting that both players elicit strong reactions in Lakers fans. He estimated that he interacted with fans who came to view his work for roughly 80% of his working hours. The response was tremendous, and Gozukuchikyan found it satisfying to see how many people were impacted by the painting.
The star's connection to his new home in Los Angeles was further cemented when Luka Doncic himself noticed the artwork and shared it on his Instagram account.
Looking Ahead: A New Era for the Lakers
In addition to honoring Kobe Bryant's life, the painting ushers in what many Lakers supporters anticipate will be an exciting new era for the team. Gozukuchikyan feels the mural will provide the young star a sense of belonging and motivation as he starts his new journey in Los Angeles now that Luka Doncic is a member of the squad.
Gozukuchikyan expressed his excitement for what lies ahead by saying, "I kind of fell off with the Lakers these last few years, but now Luka's going to make it fun to watch again."
The artwork honors Kobe Bryant's past and Luka Doncic's bright future in Los Angeles as Lakers supporters continue to welcome their new star.