Why Luka Doncic's Lakers legacy could be different than LeBron James'

In 2019, Kobe Bryant made a rare appearance at Staples Center because he wanted to watch Luka Doncic play. He brought his daughter, Gianna, and sat courtside. 

During the game, Doncic was taken aback because he heard someone trash-talking him in Slovenian, his native tongue. Doncic realized it was Bryant, who had learned a few words of his language to get under his skin. 

Fast-forward six years, Doncic is now a part of the Los Angeles Lakers, the team for which Bryant played all 20 seasons of his career. 

In the most Bryant way possible, the superstar clearly gave Doncic his stamp of approval.

Now, it seems almost prophetic.

Following a stunning trade that brought Doncic to the Lakers just over a week ago, he made his Lakers debut Monday, carrying with him the hopes of Lakers fans for the next 10 years, who dream he could become the next generational superstar who grows up in front of their eyes and brings multiple championships to their city.

For Lakers fans, who wildly cheered for Doncic from the moment he set foot on the court during pregame warmups, Doncic gives them something his superstar teammate LeBron James never could. 

Even though James is the face of the NBA and is considered one of the top two greatest players of all-time, alongside MIchael Jordan, James has never belonged to the Lakers in the way that lifers such as Bryant or Magic Johnson did. 

James had already starred in the league for 15 seasons before joining the Lakers in free agency in 2018, winning two championships with Miami and one with Cleveland. And even though he's now in his seventh season with the Lakers and led them to their first championship in 10 years in 2020, it seems as though he was too famous before coming to LA for the city of