Los Angeles Lakers Legend Kobe Bryant was killed sunday morning when the helicopter he was aboard crashed and caught fire on a hillside in Calabasas outside Los Angeles. All nine people aboard the helicopter were killed.
Kobe Byrant was 41 years old.
Among the deceased was Bryant’s 13 year-old daughter, Gianna “Gigi” Bryant. Also aboard was John Altobelli, a prominent baseball coach at Orange Coast College. Altobelli was on the flight along with his wife Keri and 13 year-old daughter Alyssa.
He was drafted to the NBA out of high school in 1996 and spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, winning five NBA championships. He was awarded NBA MVP in 2008 and NBA Finals MVP in 2009 and 2010.
Bryant won gold medals as a member of the U.S. men’s basketball team in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
The loss of Kobe Bryant has left the City of Los Angeles shaken. Thousands of fan held vigil near Staples Center in Downtown Los Angeles, where Bryant played his 20-year career with the Lakers.
Continuing to move the game forward @KingJames. Much respect my brother 💪🏾 #33644
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) January 26, 2020
BREAKING UPDATES STORY DEVELOPING: Kobe Bryant Has Died In A Helicopter Crash https://t.co/v6Tjd3MGW3
— TMZ (@TMZ) January 26, 2020
#BREAKING: Kobe’s daughter Gianna Maria was also on board the helicopter and died in the crash https://t.co/1n7U8bvqhI
— TMZ (@TMZ) January 26, 2020
