NBA legend Kobe Bryant, 41, and his daughter Gianna, 13, died in a helicopter crash over Calabasas, California, Sunday, the Los Angeles Times reports.
The big picture: A Philadelphia native, Bryant won five NBA championships and made 18 All-Star teams. He retired following the 2015–2016 season and is widely recognized as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. The Lakers retired both of his jerseys — numbers 8 and 24 — following his departure.
- Bryant has been married to Vanessa Laine Bryant since 2001. Together they'd had four daughters: Gianna, Natalia, Bianka and Capri.
- His daughter Gianna was a rising basketball player herself and had been seen attending NBA games with her father.
- Bryant had gone on to run Granity Studios, a multimedia sports content company, and a venture capital firm called Bryant Stibel.
- Bryant also won an Academy Award in 2018 for his animated short "Dear Basketball."
What we know: Bryant was traveling on a private S-76 helicopter. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has confirmed 9 people on board died in the crash, but the cause of the crash is not yet known.
- The Federal Aviation Administration tweeted Sunday that it and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash.
What they're saying: Love has poured in from the nation over the tragic event.
- Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti: "He will live forever in the heart of Los Angeles, and will be remembered through the ages as one of our greatest heroes ... I am keeping Kobe’s entire family in my prayers at this time of unimaginable grief."
- Former President Barack Obama: "Kobe was a legend on the court and just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act. To lose Gianna is even more heartbreaking to us as parents. Michelle and I send love and prayers to Vanessa and the entire Bryant family on an unthinkable day."
- Earvin Magic Johnson: "I’m in disbelief and have been crying all morning over this devastating news that Kobe and his young daughter, Gigi have passed away in a helicopter crash. Cookie and I are heartbroken."
Players at the San Antonio Spurs v. Toronto Raptors game Sunday also let the shot clock run out following tip-off in honor of Bryant's number — 24 —just hours after his and Gianna's passing.
Remarkable moment to start the Raptors-Spurs game. pic.twitter.com/thmt9ZU1Ra
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) January 26, 2020
What to watch: The Staples Center, where the Lakers play, is hosting the Grammy Awards this evening. The arena is now be a mourning ground for Bryant's followers as celebrities line up for...