Bryant, a 6ft 10in forward, enjoyed a lengthy playing career which included spells with the 76ers, Clippers and Rockets.

His passing comes four and a half years after his son – then only 41 – and his granddaughter Gianna, 13, were among those killed in a helicopter crash.

He also worked as a coach for decades, joining teams in the United States, Japan and Thailand.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Joe Bryant – nicknamed ‘Jellybean’ because of his sweet tooth – recently suffered a massive stroke.

Joe was selected by the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the 1975 NBA draft, only for the team to sell his rights to Philadelphia a few months later.

The forward enjoyed four seasons with his hometown team and helped the 76ers reach the NBA Finals in 1977.

He later moved to Europe, playing for teams in both Italy and France. Bryant began his coaching career with the girls’ basketball team at Akiba Hebrew Academy, a tiny school near Philadelphia.

He was soon back on the road, however, enjoying spells with teams in Las Vegas, Boston, Los Angeles, Tokyo and Bangkok.

According to the Inquirer, Joe’s relationship with son Kobe became strained as the Lakers legend built a Hall of Fame career in the NBA.

Back in 2016, the Lakers icon revealed he hadn’t spoken to his parents in almost three years after they attempted to auction off his high school memorabilia – without consent.

‘Our relationship is shit,’ he told ESPN. ‘I say (to them): “I’m going to buy you a very nice home, and the response is “That’s not good enough”… then you’re selling my shit?’

Kobe and his daughter Gianna died along with seven others when their helicopter came down in Calabasas, California, in January 2020.

They had flown from John Wayne Airport near his home in Newport Beach and were on their way to Thousand Oaks to Bryant’s Mamba Basketball Academy when they slammed into a hillside.

Five-time NBA champion Bryant died aged 41 in a helicopter crash, alongside his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others, in 2020.

His bronze statue, standing at 19ft and weighing 4,000lb, is situated outside the Lakers’ home, the Crypto.com Arena.

It shows Bryant, who played for the Lakers his entire career, in his famous number eight jersey.

“This statue may look like Kobe, but really, it’s what excellence looks like,” said Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was joined at the unveiling by fellow Lakers legends Magic Johnson, Jerry West and Derek Fisher.

Former head coach Phil Jackson and Bryant’s widow, Vanessa, were also in attendance.

“As I see today’s current generation of star players follow in Kobe’s footsteps with huge scoring games, I know he would take pride in knowing that he is still pouring inspiration into the game that was so special to him,” Vanessa Bryant said.

“I leave you with one of my husband’s amazing quotes,” she added. “‘Leave the game better than you found it and when it comes time for you to leave, leave a legend.’ And that he did.”

The statue is the first of three that will honour Bryant, with another set to feature him in his number 24 jersey, while the third will depict Bryant and Gianna.

Lakers pay tribute to Bryant in defeat by Denver

After Thursday’s unveiling, the Lakers wore their ‘Black Mamba’ jerseys, which were co-designed by Bryant and first worn in 2018, during their 114-106 defeat by the Denver Nuggets.

Jamal Murray scored 29 points and made a game-high 11 assists with seven rebounds to spur the Nuggets, the defending NBA champions, to their seventh successive win over the Lakers.

Anthony Davis led the Lakers with 32 points, while LeBron James added 25.

Elsewhere, Stephen Curry scored 42 points as his Golden State Warriors beat the Indiana Pacers 131-109.

Curry landed 11 of 16 three-point shots, setting a new NBA record of 13 career games with 11 or more baskets from beyond the arc.

The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 129-105, while the Detroit Pistons needed overtime to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 128-122.

Luka Doncic scored 39 points as the Dallas Mavericks held off a late charge from the New York Knicks to win 122-108, while there were also victories for the Orlando Magic, Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls, and Phoenix Suns.

“Happy birthday, baby. I love you always & forever. #82378,” captioned Vanessa on her post with old photos of the couple throughout the years.

The couple first met in 1999 on the set of a music video and married on April 18, 2001. They welcomed daughters Natalia in 2003 and Gianna in 2006. After Kobe’s retirement from the NBA in 2015, the couple welcomed two more daughters, Bianka in 2016 and Capri in 2019.

Tragedy struck in January 2020 when Kobe and his daughter Gianna, 13, along with seven others, died in a helicopter crash.

Three years after Kobe and Gianna’s untimely passing, Vanessa continues to honour her late husband and daughter in meaningful ways. In collaboration with Nike, a limited-edition triple-white “Halo” Kobe 8 sneaker was released today in honour of Kobe’s birthday, marking the grand return of the signature line.

Kobe Bryant and Vanessa Bryant (Andrew D. Bernstein/NHLI via Getty Images)

Vanessa designed a special denim jacket in honour of Kobe and Gianna for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in Inglewood.

The back of the jacket features a photo of Kobe and Taylor from the singer’s 1989 Tour in 2015 when Kobe congratulated her for breaking a venue record.

On the front is a heart with the lyric “Say you’ll remember me” from Swift’s song “Wildest Dreams.”

“Happy birthday, baby. I love you always & forever. #82378,” captioned Vanessa on her post with old photos of the couple throughout the years.

The couple first met in 1999 on the set of a music video and married on April 18, 2001. They welcomed daughters Natalia in 2003 and Gianna in 2006. After Kobe’s retirement from the NBA in 2015, the couple welcomed two more daughters, Bianka in 2016 and Capri in 2019.

Tragedy struck in January 2020 when Kobe and his daughter Gianna, 13, along with seven others, died in a helicopter crash.

Three years after Kobe and Gianna’s untimely passing, Vanessa continues to honour her late husband and daughter in meaningful ways. In collaboration with Nike, a limited-edition triple-white “Halo” Kobe 8 sneaker was released today in honour of Kobe’s birthday, marking the grand return of the signature line.

Vanessa designed a special denim jacket in honour of Kobe and Gianna for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in Inglewood.

The back of the jacket features a photo of Kobe and Taylor from the singer’s 1989 Tour in 2015 when Kobe congratulated her for breaking a venue record.

On the front is a heart with the lyric “Say you’ll remember me” from Swift’s song “Wildest Dreams.”

Bryant and his daughter Gianna died along with seven others when the aircraft crashed in the LA area.

His wife, Vanessa Bryant, sued, saying first responders photographed human remains as tradable “souvenirs”.

Lawyers for LA County called the settlement “fair and reasonable”.

“Today marks the successful culmination of Mrs Bryant’s courageous battle to hold accountable those who engaged in this grotesque conduct,” lawyers for the plaintiff said in a statement on Tuesday.

“She fought for her husband, her daughter, and all those in the community whose deceased family were treated with similar disrespect. We hope her victory at trial and this settlement will put an end to this practice.”

In a statement, Mira Hashmall, the lead trial counsel for Los Angeles County in the case, said all county-related litigation from the crash had been resolved.

She said the $28,850,000 settlement included the $16m awarded by a federal jury in August 2022 to Mrs Bryant in her invasion of privacy lawsuit against Los Angeles County.

“We hope Ms Bryant and her children continue to heal from their loss,” Ms Hashmall said.

Chris Chester, whose wife and daughter also died in the 26 January 2020 crash, separately settled with the county for nearly $20m, attorneys told US media on Tuesday.

In March 2021 Mrs Bryant shared the names of four sheriff’s deputies she said had distributed “gratuitous photos of the dead children, parents, and coaches”, who had been travelling to a basketball game.

She said the pictures, including those of her 13-year-old daughter Gianna, were taken and shared “for no reason other than morbid gossip”.

Mrs Bryant testified at the trial that she had read in media reports how photos of the crash were shown at a pub by a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy.

“I live in fear of my daughters being on social media and these popping up,” she told the court.

California has since passed a state law prohibiting first responders from taking unauthorised pictures of people who die at the scene of an accident or crime.

The aircraft in the crash that killed Bryant – a Sikorsky S-76B – went down into a hillside outside the city of Calabasas.

Conditions were foggy when the flight took off, and local police had grounded their helicopters due to the poor weather.

Following Bryant’s death three years ago, murals arose around the world depicting Bryant in this uniform. Per Sotheby’s, the jersey’s lot includes a collection of photographs by Greg Cohen of those murals.

Also, there are a variety of materials that depict this jersey including artwork, magazines, newspapers, T-shirts, photographs, pins, books and others in the lot — as well as photo matching and a letter of authenticity.

“This jersey is iconic in a way we seldom see in sports artefacts,” said Brahm Wachter, Sotheby’s head of streetwear and modern collectables in a statement.

“The image of Kobe wearing this particular jersey during the NBA Playoffs has permeated in popular culture, reprinted on murals, books, newspapers [and] has become a symbol of his fierce determination and passion that has resonated with audiences across the world.”

When Bryant was awarded what would be his only MVP trophy, at the Staples Center on May 7, 2008, he was wearing this uniform. He also wore it for 25 of his 82 games that season, including six playoff games, most notably, during that year’s Western Conference finals.

When a jersey worn in Bryant’s rookie season — signed as well — sold for $3.69 million in May 2021, it was the highest-selling basketball jersey of all time. That record has since been broken, now belonging to a jersey Michael Jordan wore in Game 1 of the 1998 “Last Dance” NBA Finals, which also sold via Sotheby’s for $10.091 million last September.

Only a handful of non-sports card items have ever surpassed the $5 million threshold. When a Babe Ruth jersey circa 1928-1930 sold for $5.64 million in June 2019 with Hunt Auctions, it was the first piece of sports memorabilia to eclipse that number.

Since then, $5 million has been spent on Muhammad Ali’s “Rumble in the Jungle” championship belt that sold for $6.18 million with Heritage Auctions in July of 2022; the 1892 Olympic Games manifesto fetched $8.8 million later in 2019; Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” jersey sold for $9.28 million (also with Sotheby’s) last May and the Jordan “Last Dance” jersey at almost $10.1 million.

Sotheby’s has brokered four of the six pieces of sports memorabilia all time. The Bryant, Maradona and Jordan jerseys are the three most expensive game-worn items ever.

The legendary Laker was 41 and his daughter was 13 when they died in the Calabasas crash on Jan. 26, 2020.

The group was flying a Sikorsky S-76B helicopter from John Wayne Airport in Orange County to a basketball tournament at Kobe’s Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks. But they never arrived.

Zobayan, the Bryants, and their friends — John Altobelli, Keri Altobelli, Alyssa Altobelli, Sarah Chester, Payton Chester, and Christina Mauser — all perished when the helicopter crashed on a hillside in Calabasas, just 14 miles away from their Thousand Oaks destination.

Since then, the NBA has honored the late basketball superstar with a trophy in his name. The league now awards the Kobe Bryant All-Star Game MVP trophy.

Now three years later, the shock still reverberates with fans, friends and family on the somber anniversary.

His legacy remains, not only in Los Angeles, but around the world.

The 73kg bronze statue is temporary but Medina hopes a permanent version is sited in a prominent Los Angeles spot.

He took the statue to the California site, where nine people died, from dawn to dusk on Wednesday.

“This is all on my own, no one asked me to do it,” said Medina.

“On this day, the second anniversary of the accident, I decided to bring it up from sunrise to sunset and create a bit of a healing process for fans.

“Today was special because I witnessed a lot of that. People would come up and they would leave with some sort of satisfaction.”

The names of the nine victims of the crash are engraved on the statue’s base, which also includes an inscription of Bryant’s famous quote ‘Heroes come and go, but legends are forever.

The five-time NBA champion died, aged 41, in a helicopter crash in January 2020 alongside his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others.

He was presented at the ceremony in Connecticut by NBA great Michael Jordan and his widow, Vanessa, accepted his induction on his behalf.

In a speech, she said: “You did it, you’re in the Hall of Fame now.”

Vanessa Bryant added: “You’re a true champ. You’re not just an MVP, you are an all-time great. I’m so proud of you. I love you forever and always, Kobe Bean Bryant.”

Los Angeles Lakers great Bryant retired in 2016; he was the NBA Most Valuable Player in 2008, was Finals MVP twice and earned 18 All-Star selections.

He was in the United States team that won Olympic gold in 2008 and 2012.

The 2020 Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony was delayed by a year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Tim Duncan, a five-time NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs, and Kevin Garnett, who helped the Boston Celtics win the championship in 2008, were among the other inductees.

Each inductee is given 10 minutes for their acceptance speech, but the clock was turned off for Vanessa Bryant, who was later joined on stage by her youngest daughters Capri and Bianka.

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“I know Kobe was really looking forward to being here,” she said. “He didn’t really talk about upcoming awards, but he did mention this one a week before he and Gigi passed.

“If my husband were here tonight, he would have a long list of people to thank who helped inspire him and get him into the Hall of Fame. At the risk of leaving anyone out, I can only say, ‘Thank you.’ To all those who helped him get here, you know who you are.”

She added: “There will never be anyone like Kobe. Kobe was one of a kind. He was special. He was humble – off the court – but bigger than life.”

She shared a photograph of them wrapped in each other’s arms and kissing at the altar on their special day.

“Happy Anniversary, baby. I love you. 20 years,” she captioned their wedding picture.

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A post shared by Vanessa Bryant ? (@vanessabryant)

She also shared a video of Kobe commenting on their relationship.

“It’s fun, we have a good time together. I love her tremendously, but we’re best friends, too. It’s a blessing,” the basketball legend says.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Vanessa Bryant ? (@vanessabryant)

According to PEOPLE, the couple met in 1999 on the set of a music video. During the course of their marriage, they had four daughters together, Natalia, Bianka, Capri and Gianna, who tragically died with her father last year in a helicopter crash.

In March, Vanessa spoke exclusively with PEOPLE about dealing with the immense loss.

“I can’t say that I’m strong every day,” she said. “I can’t say that there aren’t days when I feel like I can’t survive to the next.”

She continued, “This pain is unimaginable [but] you just have to get up and push forward. Lying in bed crying isn’t going to change the fact that my family will never be the same again. But getting out of bed and pushing forward is going to make the day better for my girls and for me. So that’s what I do.”

The five-time NBA champion died, aged 41, in a helicopter crash in January alongside his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others.

Los Angeles Lakers great Bryant retired in 2016; he was the NBA Most Valuable Player in 2008, was Finals MVP twice and earned 18 All-Star selections.

He was in the United States team that won Olympic gold in 2008 and 2012.

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NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Bryant’s death was “unspeakable” and the league was keen to “honour” him.

“Kobe Bryant is synonymous with NBA All-Star and embodies the spirit of this global celebration of our game,” Silver said.

“He always relished the opportunity to compete with the best of the best and perform at the highest level for millions of fans around the world.”

Tim Duncan, a five-time NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs, and Kevin Garnett, who helped the Boston Celtics win the championship in 2008, were also inducted into the Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame is named after Dr James Naismith, the Canadian physician who invented basketball.

The towel that was draped over the shoulders of Kobe Bryant during his farewell speech following his final NBA game sold for over $33,000 (£27,000) at an online auction.

The Lakers star ended his speech at Staples Center in Los Angeles with his trademark ‘Mamba Out’ before walking off the court. A fan grabbed the towel, beginning a stretch in which that souvenir has been sold multiple times.

The winning bid for the towel on Sunday – along with two tickets from the game on April 13, 2016 – was $33,077.16 (£26,666.81). 

Bryant scored 60 points in the Lakers’ 101-96 win over the Utah Jazz on that night.

Jeff Woolf, president of Iconic Auctions, told CNN that the buyer is known for having the largest collection of Lakers memorabilia worldwide.

“He is a devoted Lakers fan,” Woolf said. “His long-term plan is to create a museum in Southern California.”

Woolf noted that the same bidder previously spent $30,000 on a yearbook from Bryant’s middle school days.

Bryant, 41, his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven other people perished in a helicopter crash on January 26 in Calabasas, California.

Bryant spent 20 seasons with the Lakers and won five NBA championships. 

He was the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 2007-08, a 15-time All-NBA selection, 18-time All-Star and 12-time All-Defensive team member. 

He was named MVP of the NBA Finals twice and was the All-Star Game MVP four times.

Taking center court at Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game, the Oscar-winning singer belted out a stunning rendition of Donny Hathaway’s classic “For All We Know (We May Meet Again)” in front of a picture montage of Bryant and Gianna.

Bryant died, along with his 13-year-old daughter and seven others, in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, on January 26. The pair was buried February 7 at a Southern California cemetery.

At the NBA event, Hudson was introduced by basketball great Magic Johnson, who told attendees he wanted everyone to “come together” to honour Bryant and former NBA Commissioner David Stern, who died on New Year’s Day.

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In addition to Hudson’s performance, Chicago rapper Common honoured Bryant in a spoken word tribute that touched on his legacy.

Kobe and Gianna attend the WNBA All-Star Game in 2019.

“He used his game to touch the world’s soul, a king named Kobe Bryant who wore purple and gold,” Common said.

After news broke of Bryant’s death, Hudson shared a photo of the 18-time NBA All-Star on her Instagram page, saying it hurt her heart “so bad.”

“It’s like every time I go to sleep and then wake up somebody else is gone! This news hurts my heart so bad!’ she told her 2.9 million followers.

A “celebration of life” for Bryant and Gianna will be held February 24 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

She posted a throwback photo of the NBA star planting a kiss on her cheek on Instagram.

Scoring the clip to Lauryn Hill’s ‘Tell Him,’ Bryant wishes the deceased superstar a happy V-Day, calling him her ‘forever Valentine.’

“I love you so much. Missing you so much on your favourite holiday,” Bryant wrote beside the photo. “Te amo per sempre. Kisses to you and Gigi in heaven. Happy Valentine’s Day, my babies. With all my love, your boo-boo. .”

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Last week, a private funeral was held in California for Bryant and 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, who died along with seven others when the Lakers icon’s helicopter crashed last month. The two were laid to rest last Friday in Corona Del Mar, ahead of a Feb. 24 public memorial at the Staples Center in Los Angeles for all nine victims.

The two were buried in a private ceremony in Corona Del Mar, California, on February 7, according to the reports.

Multiple publications cited the death certificates as confirming the ceremony, while Entertainment Tonight spoke with somebody in touch with Bryant’s widow Vanessa Bryant.

“Vanessa and the family wanted a private service to mourn their loss,” the source told ET. “The ceremony was extremely hard for everyone as it’s still hard for them to grasp they lost two beautiful souls.”

Kobe and Gianna died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, on January 26 alongside seven others on board the craft. They were traveling to attend a youth basketball tournament hosted at Bryant’s Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks.

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An investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing and expected to take at least another year to complete. The latest development from the probe shows that the helicopter did not suffer engine damage before it crashed into a hillside.

Public memorial scheduled for 2/24

While the private ceremony has been conducted, a public ceremony is scheduled for Feb. 24 at Staples Center, the home of the Los Angles Lakers. The date is symbolic as it pays homage to the No. 2 basketball jersey Gianna wore and the No. 24 Kobe wore in his later years as a member of the Lakers.

Vanessa promoted the public memorial on Instagram after news of the event broke.

Ceremony honours other crash victims

Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, held a public memorial for the Altobelli family on Monday.

Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife Keri Altobelli and 14-year-old daughter Alyssa Altobelli were among the victims of the crash. Alyssa was a teammate on Gianna’s basketball team.

Dozens of people have made art pieces in memory of the late basketball player, Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna after they passed away in an unfortunate helicopter crash in Calabasas, Cali.

In a post on social media, Chris was pictured adding details to the wall painting of the player and his daughter.

Although the art looks unfinished, fans have lauded the musician for his talent and dedication to honour the fallen basketball legend.

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Both LeBron and Anthony Davis hit up tattoo artist Vanessa Aurelia on Wednesday looking to pay tribute to Kobe with some fresh ink.

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Fast-forward to Thursday morning, LeBron and the Lakers were working out in front of the Lakers facility in El Segundo and gave the media a sneak peek at his new art.

The tat is still under wraps but it appears he’s got a black mamba snake with some words underneath. Some people in the office think it reads, “Kobe 4 Life” but it’s really hard to tell.

We’re told LeBron plans to do a big reveal on his Instagram soon, most likely before he takes the court on Friday when the Lakers take on the Portland Trail Blazers at Staples Center.

Beyoncé first shared a photo of Kobe when he was just a kid with another one of his daughter full of life and wearing braces.

The last post was that of the basketball champion and his daughter, Gigi.

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Meanwhile, Beyoncé gave off a caption that truly depicted how broken her heart was when she heard about the helicopter crash in Calabasas, California on Sunday morning.

She wrote: “I will continue to diligently pray for your Queens. You are deeply missed beloved Kobe.”

Find her last post below:

After penning a tribute to Bryant and the late Nipsey Hussle, T.I. returned to social media to profess his love for his wife and daughters.

“I love you Mrs H,” the rapper, born Clifford Harris, wrote to his wife, Tameka “Tiny” Harris. “Imperfections, misunderstandings and all … we’ve shared most of the happiest moments of our lives together,” T.I. wrote. “I know I’ve had my moments, but … despite all my shortcomings & transgressions, the fact remains … you give me a thousand choices & I’d choose you every time.”

“I couldn’t imagine living in a world without you … or leaving you and the kids to have to live without me,” he added. “I’m determined to make you happy by any means necessary.”

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In a separate post, addressed to his daughters, Harris, 39, wrote “I love you girls more than my vocabulary will allow me to express … Please forgive me for any and all imperfections that cause misunderstandings between us … You see, Life may throw us curveballs & deal us some pretty bad hands at times. But rest assured, you’ll NEVER find yourself in a place too high or low for me to be there to catch you when you fall.”

“Regardless of our discrepancies & misunderstandings, trust and believe I’ll do any and everything possible to help you perfect your gifts,” he wrote in a third post featuring his sons.

T.I.’s comments come just months after he faced significant backlash over comments he made about going to the gynecologist with his daughter Deyjah Harris to “verify” that she was still a virgin. He later clarified his comments on Red Table Talk with Jada Pinkett Smith, saying that while he “began from a place of truth,” he also “began to embellish and exaggerate” his comments.

Five-time NBA champion Bryant died on Sunday following a crash near Calabasas, 40 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles, after travelling with his daughter and friends in heavy fog.

Authorities have so far been able to identify four of the nine bodies among the wreckage which includes 41-year-old Bryant through their fingerprints, though his 13-year-old daughter Gianna has not yet been able to be identified. Coroners were initially able to retrieve three of the nine bodies on Monday night, with the remaining six recovered the following day.

Investigators announced late on Tuesday night how they believe the helicopter crashed, detailing the final minutes of the flight that has caused an outpouring of emotional both within and outside of the sport due to the global reputation of the former LA Lakers basketball player.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have estimated that the twin-engine Sikorsky S-76B attempted to climb out of a layer of cloud after requesting clearance to increase altitude from pilot Ara Zobayan, before making a sharp left descending turn.

From that point on, the NTSB believe that the helicopter plummeted at a speed of more than 2,000 feet-per-minute (approximately 26mph) and slammed into the hillside terrain 60 seconds later, bursting into flames on impact.

“This is a pretty steep descent at high speed,” NTSB board member Jennifer Homendy told a briefing in Calabasas.

“The time from descent to impact was probably about a minute.”

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Homendy added that Zobayan’s sudden increase in altitude was him “trying to climb out of cloud” as the aircraft flew to 2,300 feet before its sudden turn, and added that the rate of descent “wouldn’t be a normal landing speed.”

“We know this was a higher-energy-impact crash,” she said, adding that investigators had surmised that the helicopter was still in one piece before hitting the ground.

Homendy said that clouds, fog and limited visibility reported in the area on Sunday were a key focus of the investigation, which will take at least a year to complete.

The helicopter was not equipped with any kind of “terrain awareness and warning system,” a device that might have alerted the pilot that the aircraft was dangerously close to the hillside, Homendy said. Nor did the helicopter carry a “black box” flight data recorder, which would make it easier to piece together the cause of the crash, she said.

NTSB recommendations that both devices be required equipment on helicopters like the one that crashed on Sunday have not been implemented by the Federal Aviation Administration, she said.

Homendy briefed reporters as authorities completed the on-scene phase of the investigation, clearing the tall, grassy slope of remaining wreckage and human remains. Among items recovered were an iPad that investigators hope may have belonged to the pilot for use in tracking flight and weather information, Homendy said.

The NTSB team carted a truckload of debris wrapped in large, white tarp bags while medical examiners positively identified remains of four victims, including Bryant and the pilot.

Bryant, who retired from the NBA in 2016 after 20 years with the Los Angeles Lakers, was on his way to a youth sports academy with his daughter Gianna. Her team that he coached was due to compete that day in a tournament.

NTSB officials privately briefed relatives of the dead by telephone on Tuesday, but Homendy declined to say anything about what was discussed or who took part in the call.

Kobe Bryant shares a moment with his daughter Gianna

Speaking at the same news conference, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said positive identifications had been made on four of the nine victims.

Besides Bryant and the pilot, a commercial aviator and certified flight instructor with more than 8,200 hours of flight experience, medical examiners confirmed the identities of John Altobelli, an Orange Coast College baseball coach.

A fourth positive identification was made for Sarah Chester, who died in the crash with her 13-year-old daughter, Payton, another basketball player involved in the tournament.

Altobelli’s wife, Keri, and their 13-year-old daughter, Alyssa, a teammate of Gianna Bryant, were among the dead, along with an assistant coach, Christina Mauser.

Bryant, 41, and Gianna, 13, were riding in one of his helicopters on their way to his Mamba Sports Academy when the aircraft suddenly crashed into the hillside of Calabasas, Calif.

The seven other passengers John, Keri and Alyssa Altobelli; Christina Mauser; Sarah and Payton Chester; and pilot Ara Zobayan also perished.

Although there are no clear answers as to what led to the fatal crash, reports have noted that the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s and Los Angeles Police departments grounded their choppers on Sunday due to heavy fog.

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Yahoo Lifestyle talked to aviation expert Scott Shappell, PhD, who is a professor of human factors and systems at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a developer of a system used in human factor investigations worldwide, about what happens during a helicopter crash investigation.

“When you go in and look at an aviation accident, no matter what that accident involves, initially your first reaction is to look for survivors,” explains Shappell, who spent 16 years as an aerospace experimental psychologist with the U.S. Navy. “Then you’re looking for causes. You’re trying to identify what brought the aircraft down.”

Shappell also noted that during the rigorous investigation, officials will look into possible mechanical issues, as well as the background of the pilot, including a detailed history of the individual passenger’s last 72 hours.

“After everything else has been extinguished,” he says, “we start looking at human factors. What was different that day than any other day that the individual may have been flying?’”

Due to helicopters having to fly at a lower altitude and slower speed, inclement weather makes the flight more difficult and even dangerous. Shappell explains that because Zobayan could not see out of his window due to poor visibility, he may have had to follow instrument flight rules, which would have forced Zobayan to rely on his instruments to tell him where he was.

“So the aircraft — Sikorsky aircraft — are [made] very well and very safe,” he says. “The fact that there may be two positions to fly doesn’t require two people to fly. Only one person would have the controls at any one time.”

Still, with little to no information about what caused the crash, Shappell says the most important thing right now is to let the families involved grieve.

“I’ve been around fatal accidents for 25 years, and I’ve talked to people who have lost loved ones,” Shappell tells Yahoo Lifestyle. “It destroys families and those families need our support…this isn’t something that we’ll have an answer for in the next couple days or for that matter, maybe even a couple months.”

He adds: “In the meantime, wrap your arms around your loved ones and be thankful for the day that we have.”

The news of his demise affected people beyond the basketball fraternity and rapper E.L. is no exception.

The ‘Kaalu’ hitmaker posed this question to his fans after he heard that Mr Bryant, his daughter and seven others had died in Calabasas in California:

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“Is God Really Good All the time ??” he posted with a broken heart emoji.

Meanwhile, knowing how controversial his caption might be, E.L. turned off comments so none of his ‘religious’ fans could attack him as he mourns.

Read the post below:

However, Hitz FM‘s Facebook page garnered lots of comments from Ghanaians with the same post.

Read some below:

It was just last Saturday night that LeBron James passed Kobe Bryant for third on the NBA‘s all-time scoring list. 

James shared the following message about Bryant, who died—along with his daughter Gianna and seven other people—in a helicopter crash on Sunday, next to a picture of the two future Hall of Famers embracing each other:

“I’m Not Ready but here I go. Man I sitting here trying to write something for this post but every time I try I begin crying again just thinking about you, niece Gigi and the friendship/bond/brotherhood we had! I literally just heard your voice Sunday morning before I left Philly to head back to LA. Didn’t think for one bit in a million years that would be the last conversation we’d have. WTF!! I’m heartbroken and devastated my brother!! Man I love you big bro. My heart goes to Vanessa and the kids. I promise you I’ll continue your legacy man! You mean so much to us all here especially #LakerNation and it’s my responsibility to put this shit on my back and keep it going!! Please give me the strength from the heavens above and watch over me! I got US here! There’s so much more I want to say but just can’t right now because I can’t get through it! Until we meet again my brother!! #Mamba4Life #Gigi4Life”

James and Bryant are two legendary figures who have defined a generation of basketball for millions of fans. There was nothing but mutual respect between the two, especially after James joined the Lakers franchise that Bryant led for so many years.

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While they were never teammates in the NBA, they helped lead the United States to a gold medal in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.

Bryant’s final tweet was a message of encouragement and congratulations to James after the King passed his mark of 33,643 points in Saturday’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers:

For his part, James talked about how “surreal” it was to pass someone he looked up to growing up, especially in Bryant’s hometown of Philadelphia:

The respect between the two legends was clear, and a clearly heartbroken James promised to do his best to continue Bryant’s legacy in the Purple and Gold.

Speaking to ‘Extra’s’ Samantha Harris, who was on location in Calabasas just after Kobe Bryant’s fatal accident, Mr Daehlin said the pilot might have lost control of the helicopter due to a technical fault.

Harris spoke to Mr Daehlin, who was outside a nearby church just before the chopper went down.

He narrated that he heard the chopper hovering directly above him before moving off and crashing.

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“The helicopter was flying at a very low altitude, you can tell from the sound but I looked up and couldn’t see it. It had to be about 100-150 feet up and I couldn’t see any disturbance in the cloud,” Mr Daehlin said.

He added that, “20 seconds later we heard an impact. It wasn’t very loud but you can hear the crash.

“When it impacted, the rotors stopped. How the impact happened was very quick and there was no explosion in the sky. People were standing close-by and we all saw the smoke. The clouds were low enough and the helicopter was out of the line.”

Watch the full video above.

Bryant, 41, and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna were among those killed when a helicopter slammed into a hillside near Malibu in Los Angeles County, a person with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY. The person requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

News of Bryant’s tragic death came as stars were gearing up for music’s biggest night: the Grammys. 

The Grammy Awards are being held at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, where Bryant played many home games for the Lakers.

Lizzo opened the awards show announcing “Tonight is for Kobe” before launching into her hits “Cuz I Love You” and “Truth Hurts.” 

Grammys host Alicia Keys also acknowledged Bryant in a touching performance of  “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday” with Boyz II Men.

The 2020 Grammy Awards in the wake of Kobe Bryant’s death reminded us how music can heal

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“To be honest with you, we’re all feeling crazy sadness right now. Because earlier today, Los Angeles, America and the whole wide world lost a hero,” Keys said. “We’re literally standing here heartbroken in the house that Kobe Bryant built. … We’re gonna love together and we’re gonna make sure we celebrate the most powerful energy … the one thing that has the power to bring us all together: And that’s music. It’s the most healing thing in the world.”

A somber Ryan Seacrest opened E!’s Grammys red carpet with a tribute to Bryant. “His loss will be felt even more deeply tonight at a place he considered home,” Seacrest told the camera. 

“It’s unthinkable,” Seacrest said. “This is a man and a family that we’ve gotten to know over the years. We’ve seen him play here before. He was on the phone with me a few months ago, talking about the love of being a father, talking about his daughters so pridefully, and I think so many artist here tonight will be thinking about this, and wanting to share their stories.” 

The news came as a shock to celebrities.

More: Kobe Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna also died in helicopter crash 

Kevin Hart noted he just saw the NBA legend recently and couldn’t believe the news.

“This honestly doesn’t make sense….I just saw you man. This hurts my heart. God please place your hands on his family and help guide them thru this unbearable time. We love you forever man…Legends never die!!!!” Hart captioned a photo of Bryant. “#MambaMentality #RIP…. RIP to the other passengers as well as sending prayers to their families.”

In another Instagram post, Hart added, “I have no words…All I have is real tears….This is beyond heartbreaking… #prayingforthebryantfamily  #RIPGianna  #RIPKobe.”

“I cannot believe this is real. My god. Oh my god,” Chrissy Teigen wrote on Twitter. She later followed up with a tweet referencing the Grammys. “Downtown right now and nothing feels more unimportant than what we are doing today. This is absolutely terrible. Everyone is numb,” Teigen wrote.

Teigen’s husband, John Legend, shared the same sentiment, noting that one superstar died while the Grammys were getting prepared to honored another.Get the Entertainment newsletter in your inbox.

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“I’m so sad and stunned right now. In Staples Arena, where Kobe created so many memories for all of us, preparing to pay tribute to another brilliant man we lost too soon, Nipsey Hussle. Life can be so brutal and senseless sometimes. Hold on to your loved ones. We miss you, Kobe,” Legend wrote. 

A speechless Will Smith simply shared a throwback photo of himself and Bryant. 

“Kobe, We love you brother,” Kanye West tweeted alongside a throwback picture of himself, Bryant, record producer Swizz Beatz and rapper Mos Def all smiles.

West added, “We’re praying for your family and appreciate the life you’ve lived and all the inspiration you gave.”

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His wife, Kim Kardashian West said on Instagram, “I cry just thinking about it.”

“My heart is so heavy. No one should ever experience what the families involved are going through,” she wrote. “This has affected us all so much but I cannot begin to imagine what Vanessa is feeling losing her husband and her baby girl… . Rest In Peace Legend.”

Former President Barack Obama sent his condolences to Bryant’s family and his wife, Vanessa, in a touching tweet.

Jennifer Lopez reflected on the importance of family in a lengthy tribute. 

“As I scrolled through Kobe’s feed, and Alex and I talk memories and moments we remember about him … this is the truth that rings out the loudest … family is what matters most,” she wrote on Instagram.

“We are all feeling sadness from this loss, but all I can think of is that it is a grain of sand compared to what Vanessa must going through right now.”

Leonardo DiCaprio said “LA will never be the same.”

“Kobe was truly larger than life, a legend,” he tweeted. “May he and all those who lost their lives today rest in peace. Love and condolences to his family.” 

Mariah Carey tweeted, “In shock right now. RIP Kobe.”

Julia Roberts added a broken-heart emoji on Instagram. 

Paula Abdul, a former cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers who went on to become the choreographer for the famed Laker Girls, paid respects to her “dear friend” on Twitter. 

“I am completely speechless and devastated at the unexpected passing of my dear friend, @kobebryant,” Abdul tweeted. “Kobe had a big heart and an even bigger love for the community of Los Angeles. Through his foundation, he changed the lives of so many people and families with his wife, Vanessa.”

“Dreams and Nightmares” rapper Meek Mill was also stunned by the news. “It’s not no telling what you gone wake up to nowadays,” he tweeted.

“My heart is in pieces hearing the news of this unimaginable tragedy. I can’t fathom what the families are going through,” Taylor Swift wrote on Twitter. “Kobe meant so much to me and to us all. Sending my prayers, love, and endless condolences to Vanessa and the family and anyone who lost someone on that flight.”

Justin Bieber shared an old photo of him and Bryant to Instagram and expressed his disbelief.

“It can’t be. You always encouraged me mamba. Gave me some of the best quotes that we smile about to this day.! Love you man!” Bieber captioned the photo.

“This can’t be real there’s no way!!! My heart hurts,” Khloe Kardashian tweeted out.

Ellen DeGeneres said Bryant’s death left her “stunned and saddened.” She added, “Like everyone…My heart is broken for his wife and family.”

Mark Wahlberg shared an Instagram picture of Bryant playfully pinching his son’s cheek while they sat courtside at a Lakers game. He captioned the photo, “RIP.”

Rapper Lil Wayne tweeted, “We lost a King. 824,” referring to both jersey numbers that Bryant wore for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Drake also shared a photo to Instagram of a leather jacket with the words “Farewell Mamba” stitched on the back. He wore the custom jacket in honor of Bryant’s final NBA All-Star game in 2016.

“It can’t be,” he captioned the post.

Pharrell Williams said the “world lost a giant today.”

“Rest In Peace Kobe Bryant,” Williams tweeted. “Also praying for the other passengers that we lost and their families.”

Nick Jonas tweeted, “This is heartbreaking. Rest In Peace Kobe.” Kevin Jonas added on Instagram, “Absolutely heartbreaking. Praying for strength for the entire Bryant family and sending all of you love. Rest In Peace Kobe and Gianna.”

Chris Brown wrote that he’s “DEVASTATED,” sharing a throwback photo of himself giving Kobe a handshake while watching a game. He added, “RIP KING.”

Gigi Hadid, a Los Angeles native, reflected on the impact Bryant had on her childhood, adding that the news is “too much.”  

“Growing up a Kobe fan brought so much joy to my life, like so many, and we were all so excited to see sweet Gigi play someday,” she wrote on Instagram. 

The supermodel continued, “Rest In Peace and love together, legends. Sending strength and my deepest condolences to Vanessa, the Bryant family, and all the families affected by this tragedy.”

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who is just reeling from the loss of his own father, shared a photo of the Mamba and his daughter to Instagram.

“Love is forever,” he wrote.”

Whoopi Goldberg sent her “deepest condolences to his family” on Twitter. She added, “RIP Kobe, hero to many including my grandson, extraordinary athlete and always kind to me & my family.” 

Demi Lovato, who is taking the stage at the Grammys for her first live performance in almost two years, shared a touching tribute. 

“This makes me so sad. Kobe you were always so sweet to me. Known you over 10 years.. not super well but we always joked about you coming over and playing that game of horse! You will (be) so missed by so many,” she captioned a photo of her and Bryant. “You’re a legend with wings now. RIP Kobe.”

Cher said her heart “Goes Out To Kobe’s Family, Friends, Fans.” She added, “It’s SO HARD To Deal With The Death Of a GREAT STAR, Because We Feel As If We Knew Them Personally. Kobe Bryant Was a GREAT ATHLETE,& All Of America Will Feel His Loss. The (World) Has Lost a Bright Light.”

“Sadly, i never personally knew you, but knowing i’m capable of all these emotions for someone i only knew from a far makes me feel more human than ever,” Kendall Jenner added on Instagram. “You had the magical ability of bringing people together, through sports and through your soul. we feel you so heavily today.”

Kylie Jenner shared a picture of Kobe embracing his daughter Gianna, writing, “at loss for words right now. praying for this beautiful family.”

Kris Jenner shared a photo of the former LA Laker and sent her condolences to his family.

“Devastated by the news of losing our precious Kobe Bryant. Words cannot express our sadness. All my deepest love and prayers are with Vanessa and Kobe’s family at this time.”

Reese Witherspoon tweeted out her condolences to Bryant’s family.

“Just devastated to hear about #KobeBryant. An extraordinary athlete, and a genuinely kind, wonderful man. Sending love, prayers & compassion to his family. To his entire @NBA family as well,” the “Legally Blonde” actress wrote.

Jada Pinkett Smith wrote a reflective message to her Instagram page alongside a photo of Bryant and his daughter. She encouraged everyone to embrace their loved ones.

“Life is so fragile. This is the kind of loss that makes you deeply reflective. My prayers to Vanessa, her children and all of those who love Kobe and Gigi,” she wrote. “This is a hard one. My heart is broken and bleeding everywhere today.”

In an early-morning tweet Monday, Oscar winner Forest Whitaker remembered Bryant’s “passion on and off the court” and how he “inspired millions of people who watched him soar and defy gravity to reach his goals. I send my love and support to Vanessa and the Bryant family. May they be held in God’s Arms.”

Jimmy Kimmel also wrote a tear-jerking message to Bryant.

“He was great, charismatic & among the hardest-working athletes ever, but what impressed me most was how deeply-involved Kobe was with his 4 daughters. Pray for them, Vanessa, his parents & his fellow passengers’ families on this sad and shocking day,” Kimmel tweeted. “We will never forget you Kobe.”

Kimmel added, “So far 2020, you suck.”

Fellow late-night host Trevor Noah expressed his grief on Twitter.

“Jesus this is heartbreaking,” he wrote.

The basketball icon died together with his daughter, Gianna and seven other people who were in the helicopter before it crashed in Calabasas, America.

According to Shatta Wale, Kobe Bryant, who played in seven NBA finals and won five championships, motivated him to start playing basketball as a leisure sport in Ghana.

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In a Facebook post, the Gringo musician told his fans that, “Me playing basketball was from this Great Legend ..RIP #Kobe ??.”

His tribute song was attached to the post and fans can listen below:

Shaquille O’Neal tweeted about the loss of “my brother,” shortly after the news broke — sentiments Michael Jordan echoed in a statement released Sunday afternoon.

Michael Jordan responds

“Words can’t describe the pain I’m feeling,” Jordan wrote as he described Bryant as “like a little brother to me.”

The death of Kobe Bryant at age 41 has stunned the basketball world and beyond after the NBA icon died in a helicopter crash Sunday morning in Calabasas, California, near Los Angeles.

Bryant, a 6-6 shooting guard, drew immediate comparisons to Jordan when he joined the NBA in 1996.

A fiery competitor who won five NBA championships, those comparisons rang true as Bryant went on to become one of the greatest players in the history of the game.

Though Bryant fell one ring short of his quest to match Jordan in championships, he surpassed him on the career scoring list to become the league’s third-leading scorer of all time until LeBron James eclipsed him on Saturday.

Bryant never quite reached Jordan’s status in the conversation as the best to ever play the game but falling a touch short of Jordan’s legacy on the basketball court added up to a remarkable, iconic career for Bryant.

The world got traumatized at the news of the demise of the retired N.B.A. star, 41, and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna on their way to basketball practice.

The father and daughter were among nine people who died in the helicopter crash near Calabasas in California, America.

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Meanwhile, some Ghanaian celebrities who were ardent fans of the “Black Mamba” have taken to their social media platforms to pour out their condolences to the Bryant family.

Some of the stars who have been reacting to the news of Kobe’s death include Wendy Shay, Joselyn Dumas, Lydia Forson among others who felt sad about Kobe and Gianna’s death.

Find their posts below:

In his own words on Twitter, he described Kobe as a legend, adding that, it was heartbreaking he died with his daughter, Gianna on Sunday morning.

“Kobe was a legend on the court and just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act. To lose Gianna is even more heartbreaking to us as parents. Michelle and I send love and prayers to Vanessa and the entire Bryant family on an unthinkable day,” he tweeted.

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The five-time NBA champion died in a helicopter crash alongside eight others in Calabasas, California, on Sunday, the city said.

The NBA confirmed that Bryant’s 13-year old daughter, Gianna, also died in the crash.

Bryant was killed alongside his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others in a helicopter crash outside the city of Calabasas, which is situated to the west of Los Angeles.

The 41-year-old was reportedly travelling with his daughter to the Mamba Academy in Thousand Oaks for basketball practice.

James was a close friend of Bryant and footage from 12News caught the heartbreaking footage of the 35-year-old breaking down in tears shortly after he got off the LA Lakers’ team plane.

James, a three-time NBA champion, four-time MVP and 16-time All-Star, had also paid a special tribute less than 24 hours before Bryant’s passing.

‘When I was a high school kid I was growing up through the ranks when Kobe came into the leagues,’ LeBron told Spectrum SportsNet.

RELATED: Kobe Bryant killed in helicopter crash

‘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.

‘As I started playing more ball and went into high school the things he was doing on the floor I admired and wanted to be a part of.

‘I went to camp and he came to speak to the kids and I was just listening. I was tried to soak everything up that I could. ‘I can remember one thing that he said. He said that if you want to be one of the greats you have to put the work in. There is no substitution to work.

‘I was a 15 year old kid at that camp.

‘In 2001, I was playing in New Jersey and the All-Star team was playing in Philadelphia. That Saturday me and Maverick drove to the Intercontinental in down town Philly and he gave me a pair of his shoes which I ended up wearing the following night. I was a 15 and he was a 14 but I wore them anyway.

‘I just sat and talked to him for a little bit. ‘When I got drafted I still admired him, seeing what he was able to accomplish and winning Championships.

‘As competitors, just watching the work ethic he put into his game. He has zero flaws offensively. I admired that he was in a place where defenses were at bay and couldn’t guard him at all. He was immortal offensively.

‘It was a dream come true to line up alongside him after admiring him for so many years.

‘To make a long story short, I’m now in a Lakers uniform, in Philly where he is from, and where I first met him. It is unreal. It makes no sense.

‘The universe puts things in your life and when you are living the right way things happen organically. I am happy just being in any conversation about Kobe Bean Bryant.

‘He is one of the all-time greatest ever basketball players to play one of the greatest Lakers – the man had two jerseys hanging up at Staples Centre.’

The 41-year-old former Los Angeles Lakers basketball star’s death was confirmed by TMZ. 

The outlet reported that Bryant was traveling with four other people in his private helicopter when it crashed, killing everyone on board. 

Officials with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department responded to reports of the crash near Las Virgenes Rd and Willow Glen St in Calabasas at around 10am after a fire broke out.  

The cause of the crash is under investigation. Witnesses reported hearing the helicopter’s engine sputtering before it went down. 

It is unclear where the chopper departed from or where it was headed. 

Kobe Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, on Sunday morning

Bryant was reportedly traveling with four other people in his private helicopter when it crashed and a fire broke out. Everyone on board was killed

Officials with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department responded to reports of the crash near Las Virgenes Rd and Willow Glen St in Calabasas at around 10am

Bryant spent his entire 20-year career with the Lakers, winning five NBA championships and 18 All-Star titles before he retired in 2016. He is pictured on the court in 2013’Five people killed’ in helicopter crash on Calabasas hillsideLoaded: 0%Progress: 0%0:00PreviousPlaySkipMuteCurrent Time0:00/Duration Time1:58FullscreenNeed Text

Bryant is survived by his wife Vanessa and their four daughters – Gianna, Natalia and Bianca and newborn Capri. 

The Philadelphia native spent his entire 20-year career with the Lakers, winning five NBA championships and 18 All-Star titles before he retired in 2016. 

He was the first guard in NBA history to play at least 20 seasons. 

Bryant has been known to use a Sikorsky S-76 helicopter to travel for years – often flying from Newport Beach to the Staples Center for Lakers games. 

This is a developing story.    

Bryant is survived by his wife Vanessa (pictured together in December) and their four daughters – Gianna, Natalia and Bianca and newborn Capri

Bryant has been known to use a Sikorsky S-76 helicopter to travel for years – often flying from Newport Beach to the Staples Center for Lakers games. He is seen preparing to board a helicopter in Los Angeles in April 2013