Having played in the NBA for two decades, players often looked up to the late Kobe Bryant for guidance. While some shared a deeper bond with the Los Angeles Lakers legend, many have also received some important advice from Bryant. As such, Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic recently shared some invaluable advice Bryant gave him.

Born in Slovenia, Doncic was technically an outsider when he arrived in the USA. With a spectacular rookie campaign, Doncic announced he was here to stay. Of course, that did not stop people from coming at him, with frequent criticism’s and doubts.

What did Kobe Bryant say to Luka Doncic?

While on JJ Redick’s “The Old Man and the Three” podcast, Doncic opened up a little about Bryant, and how the Lakers icon impacted his life. Having met early in Doncic’s career, Bryant’s advice made all the more difference to Doncic.

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“It was in Portland just after I was drafted,” Doncic revealed. “We were at the Nike campus, he was there and the one advice he gave me was ‘Watch out, they’re going to go after you because you’re from Europe. They’re going to try to go after you.’ And it was true”. 

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Though this might not cover the details of the journey that lay ahead, it gave Doncic a warning. In the end, the Slovenian had to admit that Bryant was right. Since he was from Europe, one cannot deny its effects on how people view him.

Furthermore, Luka Doncic’s few years in the NBA have vastly affected the Mavericks. The young guard has uplifted the team over the past few seasons, which includes making the playoffs while aiming for a deep run. Doncic’s play has also earned him comparisons to other greats like Stephen Curry, making him one of the league’s faces.

Did Bryant learn Slovenian to trash talk Doncic?

During the interview, Doncic was also asked about Bryant speaking to him in Slovenian. Instead of being some basic words one would expect, Bryant learned some Slovenian profanities to trash talk Doncic. “He said some bad words in my language,” Doncic revealed. “I was like, ‘Who’s talking to me in my language behind me?’ I just looked behind me, and it was Kobe”.

He referred to the interaction as ‘amazing’ and something he will never forget. Doncic even took a photo with Bryant, one of the guys he looked up to. After all, who would not cherish Bryant speaking in the mother tongue?

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Having said that, Doncic is currently leading his team with a 28.2-point per game average. Despite their recent 111-101 loss against the Philadelphia 76ers, the Mavericks are placed fifth in the Western Conference. With a spot in the playoffs guaranteed, one can only hope for a deep postseason run this season.