Kobe Bryant Killed In California Helicopter Crash
RIP to an NBA legend.
Retired NBA superstar Kobe Bryant was reportedly among nine people killed in a helicopter crash on Sunday. He was 41.
The Los Angeles Lakers legend was traveling via his private helicopter over Calabasas, California when a fire broke out, sending the chopper spiraling from the sky, according to TMZ Sports.
The deadly crash occurred around 10 a.m. Pacific time amid foggy conditions in the hills overlooking Calabasas, with the Sikorsky S-76 chopper igniting a brush fire on impact that hampered initial rescue efforts, according to The Los Angeles Times, which confirmed the deaths of Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and 7 others aboard the aircraft. There were no survivors, and the cause of the crash is under investigation.
Bryant is survived by wife Vanessa, as well as the couple’s other three daughters: Natalia, 17; Bianka, 3; and Capri Kobe Bryant, born last June.
The New York Post has more details:
Bryant, a Philadelphia native, starred for two decades with the Lakers, winning five championships and making 18 All-Star Games before hanging up his basketball shoes following the 2016 season.
The stunning death of the sweet-shooting guard came just hours after he toasted fellow NBA icon and current Laker LeBron James for passing him for third place on the league’s all-time scoring list.
“Continuing to move the game forward @KingJames,” wrote Bryant on Saturday night in his final tweet. “Much respect my brother.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7xOgFjnuiO
Bryant concluded the tweet with an emoji of a bicep flexing, and the hashtag “#33644,” one point more than he scored in his illustrious career.
Bryant’s former Lakers teammate Shaquille O’Neal was among numerous sports stars who expressed their condolences on Instagram Sunday.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7zE-AelO-q
“There’s no words to express the pain I’m going through now with this tragic and sad moment of loosing my neice Gigi & my friend, my brother, my partner in winning championships, my dude and my homie,” Shaq wrote in a caption of a vintage photograph the two celebrating on the court.
“I love you and you will be missed. My condolences goes out to the Bryant family and the families of the other passengers on board. IM SICK RIGHT NOW !”
Besides Shaq, there was an outpouring of sadness on social media from too many athletes, artists and fans to count. Here’s just a sampling:
"We're literally standing here, heartbroken, in the house that Kobe Bryant built”
Alicia Keys pays tribute to Kobe at the Grammys, which are taking place at the Staples Center
(via @MTVNEWS) pic.twitter.com/kdLYDsMlKN
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 27, 2020
My friend, a legend, husband, father, son, brother, Oscar winner and greatest Laker of all-time is gone. It’s hard to accept. Kobe was a leader of our game, a mentor to both male and female players. pic.twitter.com/NXsrXmCkkG
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) January 26, 2020
We miss you already Kobe ❤️❤️🙏🏼🙏🏼
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) January 26, 2020
Most people will remember Kobe as the magnificent athlete who inspired a whole generation of basketball players. But I will always remember him as a man who was much more than an athlete. pic.twitter.com/9EZuwk8wrV
— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (@kaj33) January 26, 2020
Please no. Please god no. It can’t be true.
— Kevin Love (@kevinlove) January 26, 2020
Jeannine & I are absolutely shocked to hear of the loss of one of my favorite people & one of the best basketball minds in the history of the game! Our hearts & prayers to Vanessa & his girls. @kobebryant you were my biggest fan, but I was yours #RIPMAMBA @NBA @espn @SLAMonline pic.twitter.com/Ll0BD6VWgr
— TheBillRussell (@RealBillRussell) January 26, 2020
Man I don’t even know where to start😭😭 I started playing ball because of KOBE after watching the 2010 finals. I had never watched ball before that and that finals was the turning point of my life. I WANTED TO BE LIKE KOBE. I’m so FREAKING SAD right now!!!!
RIP LEGEND
— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) January 26, 2020
Man not Kobe… Prayers to his family and friends! #RIPMamba
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) January 26, 2020
No words… Absolutely heartbroken for Kobe’s family. #RIPKobe
— Justin Verlander (@JustinVerlander) January 26, 2020
My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and loved ones of @kobebryant Shocked and saddened to hear he has died in a helicopter accident. A man that transcends basketball and sport in general. One of the all time great athletes. #rip #nba #KobeByrant pic.twitter.com/IFYQa2MCoE
— Wu Tang Clan (@WuTangClan) January 26, 2020
Unreal 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/eDuqHhWnOt
— CC Sabathia (@CC_Sabathia) January 26, 2020
Bryant, whose “Mamba Mentality” motto epitomized his killer instinct on the basketball court, was reportedly a lock to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, set to be announced next month.
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