____________________UPDATE____________________

 

Kobe Bryant’s 13-year old daughter, Gianni Maria Onore aka GiGi, was among those who died earlier this afternoon in the Calabasas helicopter crash.  Kobe and his daughter were on their way to basketball practice, which was being held at the Mamba Academy, nearby Thousand Oaks.

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/B6TdptHHJz9/

 

Multiple sources confirm that NBA legend Kobe Bryant has died in a helicopter crash earlier this afternoon.

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/B38UF4KHtXd/

 

 

Nine people as well as the pilot have all died in the Calabasas helicopter crash.  As for the cause of the crash, during a recent news conference and according to the Los Angeles County sheriff Alex Villanueva, he says, “It would be extremely disrespectful to understand your loved one has perished and you learn about it from TMZ.  That is just wholly inappropriate so we are not going to be going there. We are going to wait until the coroner does their job.”

 

Kobe is known to the world as ‘one of the greatest NBA players of all time.’  He had a 20 year career with the L.A. Lakers, he made 18 All-Star teams, in 1996, he was a first-round draft pick, he won 5 NBA championships along with 2 NBA Finals MVPs and scored the league MVP in 2008.  As TMZ notes, “The Lakers famously retired both of Kobe’s jerseys, number 8 and 24 … the only player in team history to receive that honor.”

Sportnet’s Josh Goldberg gives KiSS listeners an update on Kobe Bryant.

 

 

 

Kobe, who was only 41-years old, leaves behind his wife of 19 years, Vanessa, and their three daughters, Natalia, Bianca and newborn Capri.

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/B6gcXX5njBZ/

 

A statement was issued on behalf of the Toronto Raptors organization:

 

“It was just last night that we paused to remember some of the many great moments Kobe provided to basketball fans all over the world. We marveled at his passion for our game and at his tremendous skills – some of which he memorably unleashed against our team. Today, we are thinking of Kobe and his daughter Gianna, and of his teammates, his friends, and most especially his loved ones. Along with our NBA family, we are united in grief and deeply saddened at the loss of one of the greatest players in our sport, who was taken far too soon. We send our condolences to the Lakers, and especially to his wife Vanessa and to his daughters, who will forever miss their father and sister.”

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7zOqIsHaUX/

 

 

The Raptors also paid tribute to Kobe prior to tonight’s game against the Spurs.

 

 

Celebrities and fans took on Twitter to express their grief,

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7zE-AelO-q/?utm_source=ig_embed

https://twitter.com/mindykaling/status/1221529798326935552

https://twitter.com/19boknows/status/1221531327997988865

https://twitter.com/rgay/status/1221523905015242754

https://twitter.com/oliviamunn/status/1221532734197133314

https://twitter.com/WhoopiGoldberg/status/1221530356362498052

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7y6jnaFVUQ/?utm_source=ig_embed

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7y_R3SBke8/?utm_source=ig_embed

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7y7QSHBzLf/?utm_source=ig_embed

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7y8sChHPNT/?utm_source=ig_embed

Filed under: Kobe Bryant, NBA, TMZ