Kobe Bryant, one of basketball’s greatest players and most masterful scorers of all time, was among the passengers who died Sunday in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said in an afternoon news conference the passenger manifest for the helicopter indicated nine people were on board. There were no survivors. Early reports said five people were aboard.
Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna was also killed in the crash, a person with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports. The person, who was granted anonymity because they were not authorized to speak about the matter, said Gianna and her father were en route to an AAU basketball game Sunday morning when the helicopter crashed.
In a statement released by the league, NBA commissioner Adam Silver mentioned Bryant and his daughter by name, though, saying, “The NBA family is devastated by the tragic passing of Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna. … We send our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Vanessa, and their family, the Lakers organization and the entire sports world.”
Bryant retired in 2016 as a five-time NBA champion, 11-time All-NBA first-team selection, 2008 MVP, two-time Finals MVP, 18-time All-Star and four-time All-Star MVP who spent his 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers. He also won gold medals with USA Basketball at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2012 London Olympics.
After the 2015-16 season, Bryant was the third on the NBA’s all-time scoring list with 33,643 points, but on Saturday in Philadelphia, Lakers star LeBron James scored 29 points and to pass Bryant.
After the game, James spoke fondly of his admiration for Bryant.
“I’m happy just to be in any conversation with Kobe ‘Bean’ Bryant, one of the all-time greatest players, one of the all-time greatest Lakers,” James said. “The man has two jerseys hanging up in Staples Center. It’s just crazy.”
Bryant tweeted, “Continuing to move the game forward @KingJames. Much respect to my brother #33644”
Bryant settled into post-basketball life with a variety of projects. He won an Oscar in 2018 for his animated short film “Dear Basketball,” opened the Mamba Sports Academy training facility to help athletes improve and oversee a series of sports fantasy children’s books.
“You got to do what you love to do,” Bryant recently told USA TODAY Sports. “I love telling stories. I love inspiring kids or providing them with tools that are going to help them.”Get the NBA Click & Roll newsletter in your inbox.
Born in Philadelphia on Aug. 23, 1978, Instead of college, Bryant entered the NBA draft and was selected by Charlotte then traded to the Lakers in 1996. It was the beginning of a Hall of Fame career, and in all likelihood, he will be enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame later this year in his first year of eligibility.
Bryant had a high-flying game and was a gifted offensive player with an array of moves and shots that made him one of the toughest players to defend. And he was a fierce competitor with his win-at-all-costs Mamba Mentality.
Bryant had a normal start to his NBA career, coming off the bench and starting in just six games while averaging 7.6 points. By his third season, he was averaging 19.9 points and was on his way to becoming one of the league’s best scoring guards.
He had 25 50-point games and scored 81 points – the closest anyone has come to Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game – against the Toronto Raptors on Jan. 22, 2006. Bryant once told USA TODAY Sports he never watched a replay of that game.
Source USA Today
Source USA TODAY
