Kobe Bryant dies in California helicopter crash 5 people confirmed to have died in the crash
CALABASAS, Calif. – Former NBA superstar Kobe Bryant has died in a helicopter crash in California, Local 10 has confirmed.
Five people were on board when the helicopter went down near Calabasas this morning. There were no survivors.
Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter was also on board, Local 10 News has learned.
Bryant’s wife Vanessa was reportedly not on the helicopter, according to TMZ.
Bryant was 41 years old.
He
played his entire 20-year NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers and
finished his career as one of the best to ever play the game.
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he was drafted into the NBA straight out of high school at the age of 17.
He retired in 2016 a
five-time NBA champion, two-time NBA Finals MVP and the all-time leading
scorer in Lakers franchise history.
Bryant was selected
to an NBA record 18 consecutive NBA All-Star Games. He also won two gold
medals while representing the USA in the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics.
As the news broke, members of the NBA family, and many others, began to show their shock and anguish.
Bryant was on his way to a travel basketball game with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna Bryant when the helicopter crashed, sources told Wojnarowski. Those aboard the helicopter also included another player and parent. According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, there were no survivors of the crash. An investigation is ongoing.
The crash comes one day after Bryant was passed by Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James for third place on the NBA's all-time scoring list. As late as 10:39 p.m. ET on Saturday, Bryant was active on social media, congratulating James on Twitter during the Lakers' 108-91 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.
James inscribed his sneakers with "Mamba 4 Life" and "8/24 KB" in gold marker before the game, showing respect for Bryant, an 18-time All-Star with the Lakers who is eligible for the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020. All week, in the lead-up to the milestone, he was quick to laud Bryant.
"It's another guy that I looked up to when I was in grade school and high school," James said. "Seeing him come straight out of high school, he is someone that I used as inspiration. It was like, wow. Seeing a kid, 17 years old, come into the NBA and trying to make an impact on a franchise, I used it as motivation. He helped me before he even knew of me because of what he was able to do. So, just to be able to, at this point of my career, to share the same jersey that he wore, be with this historical franchise and just represent the purple and gold, it's very humbling and it's dope.
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