Bryant is all but certain to be elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame this year, when he is eligible for the first time. The basketball world and Los Angeles reacted with an outpouring of pain and disbelief. He continued to use them after retirement as he attended to his new ventures, which included a burgeoning entertainment company that recently produced an Academy Award-winning animated short film. He traveled to practices and games by helicopter before his playing career ended in 2016. The Crash Occurred About 20 Miles From Mamba Sports Academyīryant lived south of Los Angeles in coastal Orange County, and he often used helicopters to save time and avoid Southern California’s notorious traffic.

Bryant was killed, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press, and a different person familiar with the case confirmed Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna also died.īoth of the AP’s unnamed sources spoke on condition of anonymity because few details of the crash had been released publicly.Īuthorities said nine people were on the helicopter, and all were presumed dead. The crash occurred in the foggy hills above Calabasas, California, about 30 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. (Mark Blinch/The Canadian Press via AP)īryant, the 18-time All-Star who won five NBA championships and became one of the greatest basketball players of his generation during a 20-year career all with the Lakers, died in a helicopter crash Sunday.

14, 2016, file photo, Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant (24) hugs his daughter Gianna on the court in warm-ups before first half NBA All-Star Game basketball action in Toronto.

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