Kobe Bryant has been confirmed among those killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California. He was 41-years old. It has also been confirmed that his daughter, Gianna, 13, also perished in the crash.
Reports state that the pilot and eight passengers were headed to a basketball practice in nearby Thousand Oaks. The Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department has shared that there are no survivors from the accident.
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This tragic news comes less than 24 hours from Bryant sharing a historic moment with LeBron James, as James passed his record for the third top-scoring NBA player of all time. The two embraced in what some are calling a “passing of the torch moment” as James and the LA Lakers took on the Philadelphia 76ers.
Standing at 6 feet, 6 inches tall and 17-years old, Bryant entered the NBA straight from high school in 1996 becoming the youngest player in the organization’s history.
Also known as “The Black Mamba,” the NBA legend’s career resume includes 5 National Championships, 18 All-Star titles with the Lakers and two Olympic medals. He also holds the record as the fourth top scoring player with 33,643 points. The Philadelphia native is eligible for the 2020 Basketball Hall of Fame.
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Off the court, Bryant was an exceptional family man. The two deceased are survived by Vanessa Laine Bryant, Kobe’s wife of 19 years, and three other daughters.
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