It’s heartbreaking day for NBA fans with the news that 41-year-old former Lakers player Kobe Bryant has reportedly died in a helicopter crash.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, Bryant was in a helicopter that crashed in Calabasas, California on Sunday, along with eight other people who are also deceased.
Listen to the GOAT team unpack Bryant’s legacy and complicated past in the latest ep of It’s Been A Big Day For… below:
TMZ reports that Bryant’s eldest daughter, Gianna ‘Gigi’ Bryant, was also among those killed in the accident. She was just 13 years old.
The day before Kobe Bryant’s death, fellow professional basketball player LeBron James passed him on the all-time NBA scoring list during the Lakers’ game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Bryant congratulated James on Twitter – it was the last tweet he posted before his tragic death.
Tributes to the late basketball player have been flooding social media, including words of condolence from Chicago Bulls player Scottie Pippen, Ellen DeGeneres, Trevor Noah and more.
The mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti, has also released a statement on Kobe Bryant’s death: “Kobe Bryant was a giant who inspired, amazed, and thrilled people everywhere with his incomparable skill on the court — and awed us with his intellect and humility as a father, husband, creative genius, and ambassador for the game he loved.”
“He will live forever in the heart of Los Angeles, and will be remembered through the ages as one of our greatest heroes. This is a moment that leaves us struggling to find words that express the magnitude of shock and sorrow we are all feeling right now, and I am keeping Kobe’s entire family in my prayers at this time of unimaginable grief.”
Our hearts go out to Kobe Bryant’s wife, children and the rest of his family and friends during this difficult time.
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