Kobe Bryant, the 18-time NBA All-Star and one of the greatest basketball players of his generation during a 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, died in a helicopter crash Sunday with 13 years old daughter Gianna. He was 41.
The crash happened near Calabasas, California, around 10 a.m about 30 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles.
Kobe Bryant was on his way to a basketball game with his daughter, Gianna. Those aboard the helicopter also included another player and parent, sources @wojespn.
There were no survivors of the crash, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Allen Kenitzer said it was a Sikorsky S-76 and it was not known what caused the crash.
Bryant retired in 2016 as the third-leading scorer in NBA history, finishing two decades with the Lakers as a prolific scorer with a sublime all-around game and a relentless competitive ethic.
He held that spot in the league scoring ranks until Saturday night, when the Lakers’ LeBron James passed him for third place during a game in Philadelphia, Bryant’s hometown.
“Continuing to move the game forward (at)KingJames,” Bryant wrote in his last tweet. “Much respect my brother.”
