By: ESPN Staff – espn.com – January 26, 2020
Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna were among several people killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, on Sunday, a source confirmed to ESPN. Bryant was 41.
Drafted 13th overall in 1996 out of Lower Merion High School outside of Philadelphia, Bryant was a five-time NBA champion, a two-time NBA Finals MVP and the 2008 NBA MVP. The 18-time All Star retired in 2016 after 20 seasons in the league, all with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Tributes were pouring in from Laker Nation following the tragic loss of the 2020 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame nominee.
SHAQ
✔@SHAQ
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
Joey Buss
✔@Jbuss
I’m feeling numb – words can’t describe the impact Kobe has had on the world, LA, and the Lakers – not to mention the influence he had in my life as someone I grew up idolizing. I loved him – and send my condolences to all the families who lost someone today. RIP6,089Twitter Ads info and privacy
Players, coaches and executives across basketball — many of whom shared the court with Bryant during his career — shared their condolences on social media.
To see the remainder of the tributes, click read more.