Retired NBA superstar Kobe Bryant was reportedly killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California on January 26. According to TMZ, everyone onboard the flight was killed.
Although emergency personnel responded quickly, they were unable to save anyone’s life. Bryant’s wife, Vanessa, was reportedly not one of the passengers on the flight.
Senior NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowksi confirmed Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna was one of the passengers who was also killed.“Sources: Kobe Bryant was on his way to a travel basketball game with his daughter Gianna when the helicopter crashed,” he tweeted. “Those aboard the helicopter also included another player and parent.”
The 41-year-old former L.A. Laker and his daughter were on their way to a youth basketball game at the Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks. The helicopter departed from John Wayne Airport in Orange County at 9:06 a.m. local time. The first 911 call reporting the crash came in at 9:47 a.m. Bryant has famously travelled by helicopters for years. He routinely flew from Newport Beach, California to Los Angeles Stapes Center in his Sikorsky S-76 chopper when he played for the L.A. Lakers.
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Throughout his tenured 20-year career with the Lakers, Bryant made 18 All-Star teams. He was a first-round pick in the 1996 draft and won five NBA championships, two NBA Finals MVPs and he was the league MVP in 2008.
The news of Bryant’s shocking death is still sinking in. Hip Hop has come out in droves to express their sympathy and disbelief via. social media. Check out the reactions below.
Kobe, We love you brother
We’re praying for your family and appreciate the life you’ve lived and all the inspiration you gave pic.twitter.com/pxbgLOOmpY
— ye (@kanyewest) January 26, 2020
We dealt with so much death coming up … it’s wild in my mind I’m trying to deal with the death of one of my idols later because I’m still processing other crazy shit I didn’t heal from! #staystrong #SIPKOBE
— Meek Mill (@MeekMill) January 27, 2020
RIP KOBE , SO SAD , SUCH A SAD DAY N SAD NEWS , WE LOVE U
— LORD FLACKO JODYE II (@asvpxrocky) January 26, 2020
R.I.P. Kobe Bryant this is so sad I can’t believe it
— juicy j (@therealjuicyj) January 26, 2020