Austin Reaves Reveals Just How Famous Luka Doncic Is in Slovenia as Lakers Honor Kobe Bryant

Just days into their trip, the Lakers were photographed toasting over a “First Supper” hosted by Luka Doncic. It was followed by scrimmages, castle tours and a boat ride that turned heads across Ljubljana. By the final day of the minicamp, the group had a hospital visit that doubled as a tribute to the franchise’s most iconic number.

The Lakers capped their four-day team-bonding trip to Slovenia with a visit to a pediatric clinic in Ljubljana. Doncic and his new teammates spent time with sick children, took photos and signed autographs. The team’s official account marked the occasion on X with a nod to one of the franchise’s most sacred dates:

“The sweetest Kobe Day surprise in Slovenia with Luka & @UCLAHealth.”

Aug. 24, written as 8/24, corresponds to the two jersey numbers Kobe Bryant wore across his 20-year Lakers career. No. 8 for the first half of his career, and No. 24 for the second.

The date has become an informal day of tribute across the organization and fanbase each year. And pairing it with a children’s hospital visit carries obvious reasons given Bryant’s own well-documented commitment to charitable work with kids throughout his life.

The Moment That Actually Made Headlines

The trip’s most talked-about exchange came from Austin Reaves. He was asked by a reporter about his interaction with the kids at the clinic.

“They love Luka!” he said. When the reporter pressed further, asking whether the children loved Reaves too, he didn’t hesitate. “They love Luka more, as they should. Luka is a hero!”

The moment, captured on video and widely shared, shows how Doncic is loved in his home country. A level of adoration Reaves, an accomplished NBA starter in his own right, openly and cheerfully conceded he can’t compete with on Slovenian soil.

The hospital visit closed out a minicamp Doncic organized and hosted personally. He chartered a plane for 14 Lakers teammates to join him in Slovenia, according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.

The itinerary included a “First Supper” team dinner, a full-squad scrimmage and a tour of Ljubljana Castle. There was a boat ride that drew crowds of local fans, and a visit to the outdoor court where Doncic trained as a kid before becoming a national hero.

Every player on the roster attended except rookie Cameron Carr. He was unable to join due to a mandatory rookie orientation event back in the United States.

The Lakers enter the 2026-27 season with Doncic firmly established as the franchise’s new centerpiece following LeBron James’ departure to Philadelphia this offseason.