NBA star and MVP Kobe Bryant has died in a helicopter crash TMZ Sports and ABC7 reports.
Getty Images | Tommaso Boddi
Kobe Bryant Dies In Helicopter Crash
TMZ has reported that 5-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant has died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas Sunday morning.
Sources say that Kobe was traveling with at least three other passengers in his private helicopter at the time of the crash, leaving no survivors.
Update: it is now being reported by LA county officials that there were at least nine passengers on the helicopter at the time of the crash.
The Los Angeles Times reports that the crash occurred shortly before 10 a.m. on Sunday morning.
The crash allegedly ignited a brush fire, which made it difficult for emergency personnel to get to the aircraft, according to a watch commander for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Kobe is known as one of the greatest NBA players in history.
He made 18 All-Star teams over the course of his 20-year career with the Lakers.
He is also the first player in Lakers history to have both of his jersey numbers, 8 and 24, retired.
Instagram | @kobebryant
Kobe is survived by his wife Vanessa.
Instagram | @kobebryant
TMZ is reporting that Kobe's 13 year old daughter Gianna was also aboard the helicopter and died in the crash.
Condolences for the basketball icon have been flooding social media.
Shaquille O'Neal shared an emotional post remembering Kobe.
"There are no words to express the pain I’m going through now with this tragic and sad moment of loosing my neice Gigi & my friend, my brother, my partner in winning championships, my dude and my homie. I love you and you will be missed. My condolences goes out to the Bryant family and the families of the other passengers on board. IM SICK RIGHT NOW !" he wrote.
"Kobe was so much more than an athlete, he was a family man," he wrote in a second post.
"That was what we had most in common. We love our families. Whenever we got together I would hug his children like they were my own and he would embrace my kids like they were his. His baby girl Gianna was born on the same day as my youngest daughter Me’Arah. I miss you already brother. This is truly unbelievable. Everyone please keep the Bryant’s in your prayers. R.I.P"
The Rock shared a sweet photo of Kobe and his daughter on Instagram.
"Love is forever," he wrote.
RIP.
This story is developing.
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