SPORT LEGEND KOBE KILLED IN COPTER CRASH
Basketball great Bryant & his daughter, 13, among 5 dead in horror smash
BASKETBALL legend Kobe Bryant was killed yesterday when his private helicopter crashed in thick fog and burst into flames.
The 41-year-old former LA Lakers star’s daughter Gianna, 13, also died in the horror smash near Los Angeles, along with three others.
Reverend Jesse Jackson led the tributes to dad-of-four Bryant. He said: “I cannot stop crying. There is a hole in the basketball world.”
THE world of sport last night paid tribute to basketball legend Kobe Bryant after his tragic death in a helicopter crash yesterday.
The 41-year-old former Los Angeles Lakers star died along with daughter Gianna, 13, and three others when the Sikorsky S-76 went down in thick fog and burst into flames.
Gary Lineker led the tributes on this side of the Atlantic. The Match of the Day host said: “How awful. One of the greatest sportsmen of our lifetime. Utterly tragic.”
Manchester City star Raheem Sterling posted a photo of Bryant in his playing days and tweeted: “Rest easy legend.”
Actor Idris Elba wrote: “Kobe will always be remembered. A sad day.”
In the US, Hollywood star Reese Witherspoon posted: “Just devastated to hear about Kobe Bryant.
“An extraordinary athlete, and a genuinely kind, wonderful man. Sending love, prayers and compassion to his family. To his entire NBA family.”
The Reverend Jessie Jackson wrote: “As I tweet through my tears, I am so hurt. I cannot stop crying. Kobe was instrumental to so many people.
“There is a hole in the basketball world and will be for a long time. Rest in peace.”
Ellen DeGeneres added: “Like everyone, I’m stunned and saddened by the news about Kobe Bryant. My heart is broken for his wife and family.” Singer Kelly Clarkson wrote: “Everyone at our show is so saddened and shocked over the passing of Kobe Bryant.
“He was one of the kindest guests we’ve had on our show.”
Donald Trump said of the fatal crash: “That is terrible news.”
Bryant’s helicopter came down at Calabasas, west of Los Angeles. It is understood wife Vanessa, who he met when he was 21, was not on board.
Gianna was a rising basketball star herself. Bryant and Vanessa also had daughters Natalia, 17, three-year-old Bianka and Capri Kobe, who is just seven months.
Hours before the smash, Bryant – who won a gold medal for USA at the London 2012 Olympics – had congratulated LeBron James on surpassing him as the third-highest scorer in NBA history.
He tweeted: “Continuing to move the game forward King James. Respect.” The LA County Sheriff ’s Department said it had been alerted at 10.01am local time about the crash. Eyewitnesses said they heard the helicopter’s engine sputtering before it went down. The accident is now under investigation.
Bryant – whose nicknames were Lords of the Rings and Mamba – was worth an estimated £382million. He travelled by helicopter even when he played, commuting from Newport Beach to the Staples Centre in LA.
He spent his entire 20-year career with the Lakers, joining from school. Bryant won five NBA Championships and was a member of the all-star team 18 times.
In 2008 he was voted the sport’s most valuable player. At 34 years and 104 days, Bryant became the youngest player in league history to reach 30,000 career points. And he became the all-time leading scorer in the Lakers’ franchise history on February 1, 2010.
After retiring, Bryant turned to philanthropy, giving to such causes as military veterans, education and health.
Two years ago he won an Oscar for making a short movie, Dear Basketball.
In 2003, Bryant was accused of rape by a 19-year-old hotel worker in Colorado. But a year later the case was dropped after she refused to testify. She filed a separate civil lawsuit against him, which the two sides settled privately.