Retired National Basketball Association (NBA) superstar and future Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant has died in a helicopter crash on Sunday in California.
The former Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash on his way to the Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks with his daughter Gianna, who also died in the accident, for a basketball game.
Bryant was scheduled to coach his daughter's basketball team in that game. Following his retirement from the NBA in 2016, he said he had watched little basketball but Gianna's love for the game sparked his interest in coaching her team.
The father and daughter have been seen together at several NBA games recently and Gianna's basketball skills have been going viral online despite her young age of 13.
The 18-time All-Star forward is known for his tremendous scoring ability and competitive spirit. Bryant, who gave himself the nickname Black Mamba, won three consecutive NBA titles from 2000 to 2002 with fellow All-Star Shaquille O'Neal and later won two more rings, in 2009 and 2010.
Bryant has led the league in scoring in two seasons and won the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 2008.
In a Twitter post, O'Neal wrote: "Kobe was so much more than an athlete, he was a family man. That was what we had most in common. We love our families. Whenever we got together I would hug his children like they were my own and he would embrace my kids like they were his."
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver released a statement saying: "The NBA family is devastated by the tragic passing of Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna."
"For 20 seasons, Kobe showed us what is possible when remarkable talent blends with an absolute devotion to winning. He was one of the most extraordinary players in the history of our game with accomplishments that are legendary ... But he will be remembered most for inspiring people around the world to pick up a basketball and compete to the very best of their ability," narrated Silver.
