NBA player Kobe Bryant has died in a California helicopter crash, reports said. He was 41 years old. The retired Los Angeles Lakers star was going in his private helicopter over Calabasas for a basketball game when a fire broke out, sending the chopper spiraling from the sky, by TMZ Sports.
The accident happened around 10 a.m. neighborhood time amid foggy conditions in the slopes sitting above Calabasas, with the Sikorsky S-76 chopper starting a wildfire on sway that hampered the journey, as indicated by The Los Angeles Times, which affirmed the passing of Bryant and four others on board.
Bryant’s wife Vanessa was not among those on board the chopper, yet his 13-year-old little girl Gianna was, as per reports. The family is survived by the couple’s other three girls: Natalia, 17; Bianka, 3; and Capri Kobe Bryant, brought into the world last June.
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Bryant, a Philadelphia star, featured for two decades with the Lakers, winning five titles and making 18 All-Star Games before hanging up his shoes following the 2016 season.
MMA Community Reacts on Kobe Bryant’s death
Kobe Bryant’s family has received love and support from around the world. Bryant has left a legacy behind his name for the sport. To celebrate that legacy, many MMA fighters took to social media to pass their wishes to Bryant’s family and show their support in such an untimely hour.
Rip pic.twitter.com/oIM6sph2Cv
— Amanda Nunes (@Amanda_Leoa) January 26, 2020
Horrible!!!! RIP my man 😞🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/anrin1KfWZ
— Dana White (@danawhite) January 26, 2020
A million apologies and condolences we just lost a super athlete #ripKobe
— Jorge Masvidal UFC (@GamebredFighter) January 26, 2020
Terribly sad 😭
RIP to a legend who meant so much to so many. You will be remembered forever as the champion you are.🙏 pic.twitter.com/xRVuSf157X— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) January 26, 2020
No way. So sad 🙏🏼 https://t.co/xZNIXCg4c1
— Frankie Edgar (@FrankieEdgar) January 26, 2020
RIP to a real leader and motivator #KobeBryant #8 #24 pic.twitter.com/QlP2F7cVkx
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) January 26, 2020
Just sad man…
Woke up to the news and it’s sad az.— Israel Adesanya (@stylebender) January 26, 2020
😭😭😭😭😭 R.I.P. https://t.co/k6CY8stjED
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) January 26, 2020
Bruh wtf !?!?!!?!!??!!!
— Platinum Mike Perry (@PlatinumPerry) January 26, 2020
Profoundly sad day. https://t.co/vscYXKNuEB
— Jon Anik (@Jon_Anik) January 26, 2020
One of the greatest athletes of all time . RIP KOBE BRYANT 😢 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/iAk0vdR98B
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) January 26, 2020
I’ll rephrase my last tweet since everyone wants to talk shit.
TMZ just reported that Kobe Bryant has passed away in a helicopter crash in Calabasas. I hope it’s not true but if it is, my condolences go out to his family and the millions of lives he positively impacted. 💔
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) January 26, 2020
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) January 26, 2020
What!? Is this really true? 😥 https://t.co/OEIIzBJZ9v
— Megan Anderson (@MeganA_mma) January 26, 2020
Can’t believe what I just heard. My heart is broken. God bless his family. @kobebryant
— glover teixeira (@gloverteixeira) January 26, 2020
Damn RIP Kobe. That meme with him talking to his duaghter at the game hit hard man 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿
— Sodiq Yusuff (@Super_Sodiq) January 26, 2020
I just had 2 people message me that Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash. I don’t believe this. Is this for real?
— Carla Esparza (@CarlaEsparza1) January 26, 2020
Speechless! Rest Easy G.O.A.T. @kobebryant @ Homewood, Alabama https://t.co/c6hhz0vuUM
— Walt Harris (@thebigticket205) January 26, 2020
RIP Mamba 😢 https://t.co/pmHZIhVAPi
— Curtis Blaydes (@RazorBlaydes265) January 26, 2020
OMG KOBE !!! 💔
— JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) January 26, 2020
So tragic 😞 prayers to his family 🙏🏼 https://t.co/94zAhiNk50
— Niko Price (@Nikohybridprice) January 26, 2020
RIP Legend to a legend Kobe Bryant🙏🏻
— Edmen Shahbazyan (@edmenshahbazyan) January 26, 2020
WTF Kobe’s really dead? 😳
— Bonecrusher ☠️ (@Marc_Diakiese) January 26, 2020
Kobe had an invincible aura to him, almost god-like. It’s crazy to think something like this could happen to him #RIP
— Louis Smolka (@LASTSAMURAIUFC) January 26, 2020
I’m speechless…
— Danger Dobson (@shana_dobson) January 26, 2020
I am a wrestler and fighter at heart but athlete by choice. Kobe has to be one of the most iconic athletes of my generation that I can remember watching for so many years. RIP Kobe 😔
— Deron Winn (@DeronWinn) January 26, 2020
RIP @kobebryant
— Jared Gordon (@JFlashGordonMMA) January 26, 2020
MAMBA MENTALITY 💔
— Boston Salmon (@bostonboomboom) January 26, 2020
RIP Kobe. This is a dark hour and dark world at times. But you made it a brighter place and inspired me growing up. Thank you. My heart is out to your family. ♥️
— Anthony Rocco Martin (@TonyRoccoMartin) January 26, 2020
— Randa Markos (@randamma) January 26, 2020
Man this is so sad. R.I.P 🙏🏽 https://t.co/86KWHhpcth
— Julian marquez (@JMarquezMMA) January 26, 2020
Can anyone confirm is this is accurate or fake?!?! I dont know how to digest this😕
Kobe Bryant Dies in Helicopter Crash in Calabasas https://t.co/ls2ISGZFm5 via @TMZ
— Arjan Singh Bhullar (@TheOneASB) January 26, 2020
It’s hard to believe https://t.co/fY3LyjZ5Dg
— Aiemann Zahabi (@Aiemannzahabi) January 26, 2020
Wow 😳…. Life is precious. RIP Legend https://t.co/IsDhikzNqo
— Randy Costa (@RandyCosta135) January 26, 2020
Man Kobe was one of my fav/ greatest athletes of all time 💔. RIP to a great one
— Eryk Anders (@erykanders) January 26, 2020
Damn, this one hurts. #KobeBryant
— Mike Jackson, Esq. (@TheTruthJackson) January 26, 2020
RIP to the legend @kobebryant Honestly can’t even believe that this news is true. Growing up wasn’t a Kobe/Laker fan, but couldn’t help to admire, appreciate, and respect the competitor that he was, and all that he… https://t.co/VVRJvF7cpm
— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) January 26, 2020
Kobe Bryant will forever remain a basketball GOAT
Kobe Bryant’s death has taken the entire MMA community by shock. Dana White, Daniel Cormier, and Nunes also took to twitter to show their love and support to Kobe Bryant. The five-time NBA champion was no more unusual to the universe of combat fighting. While he never contended, the man named “The Black Mamba” frequently plunged his toe into the world of MMA with undertakings, for example, ESPN’s “Nitty gritty,” including former UFC champion Daniel Cormier, and his drink Body Armor, which has been unmistakably highlighted everytime on the scales at formal weigh-ins and public interviews.
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We, at Essentially Sports take this platform to convey strength and love to Kobe’s family and friends.
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