Luka Doncic makes Kobe Day surprise in heartwarming hospital visit

Every Aug. 24 holds special meaning for the Los Angeles Lakers. It is recognized as Kobe Bryant Day, honoring his numbers 8 and 24. It also falls on the day after Kobe’s official birthday of Aug. 23.

Players, family, friends, and fans worldwide commemorate the occasion however they see fit, in keeping with Kobe’s legacy. The new face of the Lakers, Luka Doncic, did his part when paying a surprise visit to a hospital in his home country of Slovenia.

He gave a bag of gifts to a mother who named her newborn son Luka.

The sweetest Kobe Day surprise in Slovenia with Luka & @UCLAHealth pic.twitter.com/pSjOLSYRNO

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) August 24, 2026

Over the weekend, Doncic organized a team trip to Slovenia as part of minicap. In total, 16 of 17 players were on the trip, with rookie Cam Carr the exception because of orientation.

The team practiced at Stožice Arena in Ljubljana. In addition, Doncic took the team to a newly renovated basketball court where he played as a child.

In Slovenia, Doncic is a beloved icon. Over the last several years, he helped put the nation on the basketball map. He led them to the gold medal at FIBA EuroBasket in 2017. In 2020, Doncic led Slovenia to their first Olympic appearance in Tokyo.

His enormous popularity has earned him a position as an ambassador on the Slovenian Tourist Board, promoting Slovenia everywhere he goes.

After LeBron James left for the Philadelphia 76ers, Doncic is now carrying the Lakers on his shoulders.

One can only imagine what it would be like if Kobe were still with us and what he would have thought of Doncic’s Lakers.

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