Legendary American Basketball star Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna have reportedly been killed in an Helicopter crash.
According to the LA County Sheriff, the crash killed 7 other people who were on board the helicopter.
The 41 year old father of four , together with his crew were traveling to the Mamba Sports Academy for a practice event when, at some point, the helicopter crashed to the ground, causing a fire which killed the passengers with no survivors.
A legendary basketball player, Bryant was drafted to the Charlotte Hornets as a first-round pick in the NBA draft in 1996; he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers the next year. He absolutely dominated the court over the course of his 21-year career, becoming a five-time national champion, the scoring leader for two consecutive seasons in 2006 and 2007, and the all-time leading scorer for the Lakers at only 34 years old. He was the fourth-highest scoring NBA player of all time, and banked 33,643 points over the course of his career.
He retired in April 2016, after the Lakers won a game against the Utah Jazz, 106-96. In December 2017, the Lakers retired his jersey numbers, both 8 and 24, for the rest of franchise history. In addition to getting into venture capitalism and releasing a book, The Mamba Mentality: How I Play in 2018, Bryant continued to work with players to help them improve their basketball skills, in an effort to give back to the game that he loved so much.
The news has since shaken the world of sports and everyone in general.
I'm actually at a loss for words this morning… My heart goes out to his family after this tragic event. He was one of the first I ever saw play and inspired me to work hard no matter what it was. Gianna was gonna go so far man… This can't be true. 💔💔💔 #ripkobe @kobebryant pic.twitter.com/LVy0Jj2ZVp
— itscrypticmusic (@itscrypticmusic) January 26, 2020
Rick Ross on Kobe Bryant’s tragic passing: “I think the true champion that Kobe was, he would want us to celebrate his legacy. I think that’s the star of the night.” #RIPKobeBryant #GRAMMYs
(Via: @BET) pic.twitter.com/hxLIl6J1GS
— HipHopDX (@HipHopDX) January 26, 2020
A tough day for the #Rockets, the NBA and the sports world.
RIP, Kobe pic.twitter.com/QxfrWbpM2I
— Daniel Gotera (@DTGoteraKHOU) January 26, 2020
LeBron James was visibly emotional while exiting the Los Angeles Lakers' team plane following the news of Kobe and Gianna Bryant's death.
(via @12SportsAZ)pic.twitter.com/pKZWr6uuXu
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) January 26, 2020
It is a devastating day for the game of basketball.
Rest in peace Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and the others on board during the crash.
Our condolences go out to all the families affected. pic.twitter.com/00I0LlE3e9
— Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) January 26, 2020
"I got this. We don’t need no boy for that. I got this."
― Gianna Maria-Onore "Gigi" Bryant a.k.a. Mambacita (died this day, January 26, 2020) reacting to people telling Kobe he needs to have a boy to carry on his legacy pic.twitter.com/gcSZyudpyj— MacCocktail (@MacCocktail) January 26, 2020
There’s no words to express the pain Im going through with this tragedy of loosing my neice Gigi & my brother @kobebryant I love u and u will be missed. My condolences goes out to the Bryant family and the families of the other passengers on board. IM SICK RIGHT NOW pic.twitter.com/pigHywq3c1
— SHAQ (@SHAQ) January 26, 2020
Today, we mourn the loss of one of the greatest Superstars of all-time. There are few to have ever done it, and few who will ever do it, like the Mamba, Kobe Bryant. pic.twitter.com/Bwd7q3YVJG
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) January 26, 2020
Tiger didn’t know about Kobe until after the round. “I didn’t really understand why everyone was saying ‘Do it for Mamba.’”
— Tiger Tracker (@GCTigerTracker) January 26, 2020
My biggest idol in Basketball! Terrible news, rest in peace, Black Mamba 😢 #RIP 😢🏀🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/IBIvE0SdAz
— Rodrygo Goes (@RodrygoGoes) January 26, 2020
Our condolences to the family and RIP to one of the best basketball players to ever step on the court.
