Kobe Bryant, one of the world's great sporting icons, was killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California on Sunday morning, aged 41. His 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, was also on board the aircraft.
The former Los Angeles Lakers basketball star and his daughter were among nine passengers who were all killed in the crash, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Officials said firefighters were able to extinguish the flames as they work to preserve evidence.
Bryant spent the entirety of his 20-year NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers, winning five championships, before retiring in 2016. He also won two Olympic gold medals with the US national team in 2008 and 2012. Follow live updates below:
Odom pays tribute to Bryant in emotional letter
"These picture are just the tip of the iceberg of our relationship," he said to open an emotional post on Instagram.
"He taught me so many things in life that were necessary on and off the court.
"On the court he taught me how to carve out defences and how to take my time. How to make winning my ultimate goal.
"Off the court he taught me to sign my own cheques.
"Of course anyone who knows my story knows I've suffered a lot of loss but the only loss I can compare this to is when I lost my son. Even though our relationship wasn't father/son, it was more like him being a teacher and me being his brother.
"I'm glad I got to be the Ying to your Yang as far as the locker room was concerned. It was my pleasure.
"I couldn't even catch my breath today when I heard this news. I just knew if he was in a helicopter crash he would have been the one to survive.
"Somehow he would have jumped out and landed on his feet.
"I'm sitting here thinking about when we would be in practice scrimmaging and you would start the jump ball off with elbowing Sasha in the chest. Like dude it's 10:30 in the morning lol.
"You think watching him play was crazy, you gotta [sic] think in practice if you scored like 8-9 buckets throughout the practice you had a great practice. I've seen him knock off 13-14 in a row in practice!!!!
"I'm still waiting for the media to come out and say wrong report. No way God took my brother this early.
"I know I['ve] been through my own stuff in life with using drugs and not being good to myself.
"When I went through that Coma situation if God would have came to me and said we would take me and spare Kobe I would have rather that happened.
"In honour of my brother I'm up at 4am tomorrow to get to the gym!
"Gigi [is] gone [sic] give you buckets!!!!
"I love you brother."
“When I was a high school kid I was growing up through the ranks when Kobe came into the leagues,” James said.
"It wasn’t a dream of mine to go straight to the NBA from high school at the time but for a 17 or 18 year old to make that leap, that’s pretty damn cool...
In 2015, Bryant walked away from the game he loved, penning a poignant letter in appreciation for what the sport gave to him. The letter was then animated as a short film that won an Oscar at the 90th Academy Awards - read it in full here:
Five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant has died aged 41.
The point guard, widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, died in a helicopter crash in California on Sunday morning.
Here, the PA news agency takes a look at Bryant's career in numbers.
5 - The number of NBA titles he won.
33,643 - The number of regular-season points he scored. The fourth-highest in history.
5640 - The number of post-season points he scored.
8378 - The number of three-pointers he scored.
1346 - The number of NBA games he played.
20 - Seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, the most with one team in NBA history.
13 - Where Bryant was selected in the NBA draft.
24 - His jersey number from 2006 onwards, before which he wore the number eight.
15 - The number of All-Star game appearances he made.
81 - the career-high points total he scored against Toronto in 2006.
2 - Olympic Gold medals (2008, 2012).
4 - All-Star MVP Awards (2002, 2007, 2009, 2011), tied with Bob Pettit for the most in NBA history.
17 - The number of NBA player-of-the-month awards he won.
32 - The number of NBA player-of-the-week awards he won.
Tiger Woods was unaware of the death of his good friend Kobe Bryant during the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego on Sunday.
The Los Angeles Lakers legend was one of nine victims in a helicopter crash, including his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, with the news breaking during the early stages of Woods’ final round at Torrey Pines.
But caddie Joe LaCava opted against telling his boss so as not to distract him, though he finally delivered the news after Woods wrapped up his round at the 18th hole and made his way to the scoring room.
“Excuse me!” said a clearly stunned Woods, who is a passionate, lifelong Lakers fan.
“Joey realised that I was locked into trying to (win and) didn’t want to distract me with this type of news,” Woods told reporters, before paying tribute to his late friend.
"Joey realised that I was locked into trying to (win and) didn't want to distract me with this type of news," Woods told reporters.
"I didn't really understand why people in the gallery were saying 'Do it for Mamba' but now I understand.
"He came in the league and I turned pro right around the same time and we had our 20-year run together," said 15-times major champion Woods.
"It's a shocker to everyone, unbelievably sad, and one of the more tragic days.
"Life is very fragile as we all know. You can be gone at any given time and we have to appreciate the moments that we have. I just can't imagine what his family's going through right now."
"My heart truly mourns over the news today. Kobe was a great mentor and friend to me," Novak Djokovic wrote.
"You and your daughter will live forever in our hearts. There are not enough words to express my deepest sympathies to the Bryants and every family suffering from this tragedy."
While Rafael Nadal wrote: "I woke up this morning with the horrible news of the tragic death of one of the greatest sportsman in the world."
“When I was a high school kid I was growing up through the ranks when Kobe came into the leagues,” James said.
“It wasn’t a dream of mine to go straight to the NBA from high school at the time but for a 17 or 18 year old to make that leap, that’s pretty damn cool...
“We’re literally standing here, heartbroken, in the house that Kobe Bryant built.
"Right now, Kobe and his daughter Gianna and all of those that have been tragically lost today are in our spirit, and our hearts and our prayers.
“I know that music is the most healing thing in the world,” Keys said, “so let us get some healing going on right now.”
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Tributes
Tributes have poured in for Kobe Bryant after the former basketball star has died in a helicopter crash at the age of 41.
The likes of US president Donald Trump, Usain Bolt, Tom Brady, Whoopi Goldberg, Lennox Lewis, Andy Murray and Justin Bieber were among those to pay their respects to the five-time NBA champion on social media.
Bryant, regarded as one of the best players of all time, represented the Los Angeles Lakers for all of his 20-year career and also won two Olympic gold medals before retiring in 2016.
President Trump wrote on Twitter: “Reports are that basketball great Kobe Bryant and three others have been killed in a helicopter crash in California. That is terrible news!”
Joel Embiid, a three-time NBA All-Star playing for Bryant’s hometown team the Philadelphia 76ers, said he took up basketball after watching “legend” Bryant in action and wanted to emulate him.
The Cameroon-born centre wrote: “Man I don’t even know where to start. I started playing ball because of KOBE after watching the 2010 finals. I had never watched ball before that and that finals was the turning point of my life. I WANTED TO BE LIKE KOBE. I’m so FREAKING SAD right now!!!! RIP LEGEND”
Former record-breaking Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt tweeted: “Still can’t believe” along with a photo of him with Bryant.
Tom Brady, the six-time Super Bowl winner, wrote: “We miss you already Kobe”
Shooting guard Dwyane Wade, who won three NBA titles with the Miami Heat and was a team-mate of Bryant’s with the United States, wrote: “Nooooooooooo God please No!”
Team USA wrote: “We are deeply saddened by the loss of two-time Olympic champion Kobe Bryant. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.”
TV presenter Whoopi Goldberg wrote: “RIP Kobe, hero to many including my grandson, extraordinary athlete and always kind to me & my family. My deepest condolences to his family.”
Former world heavyweight boxing champion Lennox Lewis put a picture of Bryant on his Twitter account simply accompanied by the word “Heartbroken”.
Fellow boxer Tony Bellew, meanwhile, wrote: “Truly heartbreaking news about the great Kobe Bryant! An iconic figure who will go down with the greatest of his generation.”
Three-time grand slam tennis champion Andy Murray also paid tribute to Bryant, saying on an Instagram story “This has hit me hard”, while adding “Thinking of all his family, friends and colleagues.”
Scores of footballers tweeted their shock and sadness, including United States striker Alex Morgan, Manchester City duo Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling, Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford and Inter Milan forward Romelu Lukaku.
Morgan, a two-time World Cup winner and gold medallist at the 2012 London Olympics, wrote: “My heart is heavy with the news of Kobe Bryant. Prayers go out to his family right now through this unthinkable time.”
Serie A giants AC Milan tweeted: “We have no words to express how shocked we are to hear of the tragic passing of one of the greatest sportsmen of all time and Rossonero fan, Kobe Bryant. All our thoughts are with the families of those affected by this tragic accident. You will forever be missed, Kobe.”
Biles, winner of 23 Olympic and World Championship gold medals, wrote “rest in peace Kobe” alongside a picture of Bryant with the USA women’s gymnastics team.
Singer Bieber also put an old picture of him alongside Bryant on Instagram, saying: “It can’t be. You always encouraged me mamba. Gave me me some of the best quotes that we smile about to this day.! Love you man!”
PA
