Kobe Bryant's former Los Angeles Lakers teammate Lamar Odom has spoken of his heartbreak following his friend's death.
The ex basketball player appeared on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday morning and paid tribute to Bryant, who was killed alongside his 13-year-old daughter Gianna in a helicopter crash on Sunday.
Joining his fiancée Sabrina Parr, 32, via a live link from Atlanta, the retired sportsman, 40, said the death of his friend has been a "long-lasting nightmare", comparing it to the passing of his six-month-old son Jayden in 2006 from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Odom said: "It seems rather surreal, it feels like a long-lasting nightmare.
"I’m gonna miss him dearly, his tutelage, his strong will. I’m just blessed that I was able to rub shoulders with that man and have a bit of that magical dust sprinkle off on me.
"I can’t imagine how his children, his wife and his mother and father feel right now. I haven’t really felt pain or shock like this since my son passed away in 2006."
He added: "He was the first one to practice, the last one to leave, the willingness to put in the work at being great.
"It really rubbed off on me. He just never stopped, he always wanted more. I don’t expect there to ever be another one like him."
Parr went on to reveal that Bryant reached out to help Odom during his Dancing With The Stars stint last year.
The personal trainer recalled: "He didn't really say much different [to me] as far as pushing him, but one thing he did say was, they were Face-Timing and I was just happy he took the time out to want to get involved and support Lamar.
"The moment Kobe found out he text and said 'go out there and kill it', practice till your legs hurt then practice some more."
This came after a series of touching Instagram posts written by Odom in memory of his friend.
In one post he shared that he had decided to "make Kobe proud" and go to the gym.
In a second post, he said: "These picture are just the tip of the iceberg of our relationship. 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 defenses and how to take my time. How to make winning my ultimate goal. Off the court he taught me to sign my own checks lol. 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."
He added: "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 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 honor of my brother I’m up at 4am tomorrow to get to the gym! Gigi gone give you buckets!!!! I love you brother.' [sic]"
