The news of Sunday morning's helicopter crash that took the life of NBA great, Kobe Bryant, has shaken the world. As former teammates and coaches, friends and fans memorialize the life and achievements of Bryant, the stories of who he was off the court are resonating deeply within every community.
Kobe and his daughter Gigi, his protegé, both passed away in the tragic crash, along with seven others on board. The victims include John Altobelli, a head baseball coach at Orange Coast College, his wife, Keri, and 13-year-old daughter, Alyssa, who was Gigi's teammate. Also on board, Christina Mauser, the assistant coach for the Mamba Academy basketball team, Sarah Chester and her daughter, Payton, also a basketball player, along with the helicopter's pilot, Ara Zobayan.
Stars around the league shared their memories and condolences and expressed their heartbreak over the legend's passing.
Ironically, the night before his passing, Kobe took to social media to honor Lebron James for passing him on the NBA's career scoring list.
Continuing to move the game forward @KingJames. Much respect my brother 💪🏾 #33644
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) January 26, 2020
Bryant had a legendary NBA career and is considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He was referred to often by his self-given nickname "The Black Mamba" and was among the highest-paid NBA players ever. He retired in 2016 after spending the entirety of his 20-season career with the Lakers, a feat no other player has touched.
What Bryant was most excited about after his own days on the court were over was getting to raise his four daughters. He frequently spoke about them and their achievements and raved about being a "girl dad" through and through.
While the world has lost a legend, a number of families mourn the passing of their husbands, wives, daughters, sisters, brothers, fathers, mothers, cousins, and friends from this tragic accident. May they all rest peacefully.