Five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna died in a helicopter crash in Los Angeles on the morning of Jan. 26. He was 41.
Devastation at the news of Bryant’s death extended widely beyond the sports world. Former President Barack Obama issued a heartfelt statement saying ‘‘Kobe was a legend on the court and just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act.”
The former Los Angeles Lakers star finished his career third on the all-time NBA scoring leaderboard, one spot ahead of Michael Jordan. When LeBron James passed him for the No. 3 spot all-time the night before the helicopter crash, Bryant had tweeted out his congratulations to James.
“Words can’t the pain I’m feeling,” Jordan said in a statement. “I loved Kobe – he was like a little brother to me. We used to talk often, and I will miss those conversations very much.”
