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URLhttps://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-51256756
Last Crawled2026-03-16 11:36:00 (1 month ago)
First Indexed2020-01-26 20:19:53 (6 years ago)
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Meta TitleKobe Bryant: Basketball legend dies in helicopter crash
Meta DescriptionThe basketball star, 41, and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna are among the nine killed in the crash.
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27 January 2020 This video has been removed for rights reasons US basketball legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna were among nine people killed in a helicopter crash in the city of Calabasas, California. Bryant, 41, and Gianna, 13, were travelling in a private helicopter when it came down and burst into flames. The LA county sheriff said there were no survivors. Bryant, a five-time NBA champion, played for the LA Lakers throughout his career and is considered one of the greatest players in the game's history. Tributes from celebrities and fellow sports stars have been pouring in, many expressing shock at his sudden death. Moments of silence have been observed at basketball games across the US. Bryant was also remembered at the Grammy Awards , which were held at the Staples Center, the Los Angeles Lakers' stadium, on Sunday night. "We're all feeling crazy sadness right now," said host Alicia Keys. "Because earlier today Los Angeles, America and the whole wide world lost a hero. We're literally standing here heartbroken in the house that Kobe Bryant built." Alicia Keys and Lizzo lead tributes to Kobe Bryant at the Grammys The National Basketball Association issued a statement saying it was "devastated by the tragic passing of Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna". "For 20 seasons, Kobe showed us what is possible when remarkable talent blends with an absolute devotion to winning," it said. What do we know about the crash? Sheriff Alex Villanueva said the helicopter's manifest indicated that nine people were on board when it crashed, raising the number from five in earlier statements by officials. Coroners have not officially named the victims. But family members and colleagues said John Altobelli, coach of the Orange Coast College basketball team, was among the passengers, along with his wife Keri and their 13-year-old daughter Alyssa - who played with Bryant's daughter, Gianna. Christina Mauser, a basketball coach at Gianna's school, was also on board, her husband wrote on Facebook. LA Sheriff Alex Villanueva confirms there were no survivors in the helicopter crash In a statement on Sunday afternoon, the City of Calabasas said it heard the news "with great sadness". "The aircraft went down in a remote field off Las Virgenes around 10:00 this morning. Nobody on the ground was hurt," it added. Reaction and tributes as NBA legend dies in helicopter crash World sport stars and celebrities pay tribute to basketball legend Kobe Bryant's career in numbers Gavin Masak, who lives nearby, told CBS News of the moment the helicopter crashed. "It wasn't exactly like an explosion sound but it was like a loud boom. It sounded like a helicopter, but it sounded like a jet, like it was loud, so I went inside and told my dad what was happening. So when I came out I saw smoke on the hill but it wasn't like a big, black cloud of smoke, it was just grey," he said. Site where basketball legend Kobe Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash Other eyewitnesses told celebrity news site TMZ they heard the helicopter's engine sputtering before it went down. The LA County Sheriff's Department shared pictures from the scene of the accident, showing a fire truck and smoke emerging from the hills. Allow X content? This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read   and   before accepting. To view this content choose  ‘accept and continue’ . The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. X content may contain adverts. The National Transportation Safety Board identified the crashed helicopter as a Sikorsky S-76B and said it was sending a team to investigate the crash. Police have asked people to stay away from the crash site in order not to interfere with the investigation. Why was Kobe Bryant so famous? Bryant played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers. He retired in April 2016. His achievements include being the 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) and two-time NBA Finals' MVP. He was also NBA scoring champion twice and a two-time Olympic champion. Reuters Bryant played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers He famously scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors in 2006, the second-highest single-game total in NBA history. He also won an Oscar for best short animated film in 2018 for Dear Basketball, a five-minute film based on a love letter to the sport he had written in 2015. Bryant and his wife, Vanessa, have three other daughters, Natalia, Bianca and Capri. Bryant was accused of sexual assault in 2003 by a 19-year-old woman working at a Colorado resort. He denied the allegation, saying the two had consensual sex. The case was dropped after the accuser refused to testify in court. He later apologised, saying he recognised that "she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did." A subsequent civil suit was settled out of court. What has the reaction been? Tributes for the sports star poured in on social media following news of the crash. Shaquille O'Neal, who played alongside Bryant at the Lakers between 1996 and 2004, said there were "no words to express the pain I'm going through". "I love you and you will be missed," he wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of the pair in their Lakers kits. Deron Williams, who won an Olympic gold alongside Bryant, said he was lost for words. He described Bryant as "the greatest competitor I have ever gone up against and played with". Allow Instagram content? This article contains content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read   and   before accepting. To view this content choose  ‘accept and continue’ . The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Instagram content may contain adverts. Former basketball player Tony Parker said he was "heartbroken". "Terrible news," tweeted US President Donald Trump. "He loved his family so much, and had such strong passion for the future. The loss of his beautiful daughter, Gianna, makes this moment even more devastating." Former US President Barack Obama described Bryant as "a legend on the court" and said he was "just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act". Eight-time Olympic gold medallist sprinter Usain Bolt said he could not believe the news. Rapper Kanye West tweeted his appreciation for "the life you've lived and all the inspiration you gave". Allow X content? This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read   and   before accepting. To view this content choose  ‘accept and continue’ . The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. X content may contain adverts. Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling wrote "rest easy legend" in a tweet accompanied by a black-and-white photo of the sports star. "This is absolutely terrible. Everyone is numb," American actress and model Chrissy Teigen tweeted. Pop star Mariah Carey said she was in shock. Fans gathered at a makeshift memorial for Bryant in front of the Staples Center sports and entertainment arena in Los Angeles, laying flowers and basketballs in memory of the star. Reuters
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The LA county sheriff said there were no survivors. Bryant, a five-time NBA champion, played for the LA Lakers throughout his career and is considered one of the greatest players in the game's history. Tributes from celebrities and fellow sports stars have been pouring in, many expressing shock at his sudden death. Moments of silence have been observed at basketball games across the US. Bryant was also remembered [at the Grammy Awards](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-51240210), which were held at the Staples Center, the Los Angeles Lakers' stadium, on Sunday night. "We're all feeling crazy sadness right now," said host Alicia Keys. "Because earlier today Los Angeles, America and the whole wide world lost a hero. We're literally standing here heartbroken in the house that Kobe Bryant built." Alicia Keys and Lizzo lead tributes to Kobe Bryant at the Grammys The National Basketball Association issued a statement saying it was "devastated by the tragic passing of Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna". "For 20 seasons, Kobe showed us what is possible when remarkable talent blends with an absolute devotion to winning," it said. ## What do we know about the crash? Sheriff Alex Villanueva said the helicopter's manifest indicated that nine people were on board when it crashed, raising the number from five in earlier statements by officials. Coroners have not officially named the victims. But family members and colleagues said John Altobelli, coach of the Orange Coast College basketball team, was among the passengers, along with his wife Keri and their 13-year-old daughter Alyssa - who played with Bryant's daughter, Gianna. Christina Mauser, a basketball coach at Gianna's school, was also on board, her husband wrote on Facebook. LA Sheriff Alex Villanueva confirms there were no survivors in the helicopter crash In a statement on Sunday afternoon, the City of Calabasas said it heard the news "with great sadness". "The aircraft went down in a remote field off Las Virgenes around 10:00 this morning. Nobody on the ground was hurt," it added. - [Reaction and tributes as NBA legend dies in helicopter crash](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/basketball/51258731) - [World sport stars and celebrities pay tribute to basketball legend](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/basketball/51257956) - [Kobe Bryant's career in numbers](https://www.bbc.com/sport/basketball/51258733) Gavin Masak, who lives nearby, told CBS News of the moment the helicopter crashed. "It wasn't exactly like an explosion sound but it was like a loud boom. It sounded like a helicopter, but it sounded like a jet, like it was loud, so I went inside and told my dad what was happening. So when I came out I saw smoke on the hill but it wasn't like a big, black cloud of smoke, it was just grey," he said. Site where basketball legend Kobe Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash Other eyewitnesses told celebrity news site TMZ they heard the helicopter's engine sputtering before it went down. The LA County Sheriff's Department shared pictures from the scene of the accident, showing a fire truck and smoke emerging from the hills. #### Allow X content? This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read [X’s cookie policy](https://help.twitter.com/en/rules-and-policies/twitter-cookies) and [privacy policy](https://twitter.com/en/privacy) before accepting. To view this content choose **‘accept and continue’**. Accept and continue The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. X content may contain adverts. ![Presentational white space](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/94C2/production/_109028083_1px_white_line-nc.png.webp) The National Transportation Safety Board identified the crashed helicopter as a Sikorsky S-76B and said it was sending a team to investigate the crash. Police have asked people to stay away from the crash site in order not to interfere with the investigation. [Bryant was known for taking his helicopter to beat traffic](https://www.gq.com/story/kobe-bryant-gq-in-it-to-win-it-2010) in Los Angeles. ## Why was Kobe Bryant so famous? Bryant played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers. He retired in April 2016. His achievements include being the 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) and two-time NBA Finals' MVP. He was also NBA scoring champion twice and a two-time Olympic champion. ![Reuters Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant plays a game in Los Angeles, on 21 May 2009.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/8DF9/production/_110654363_kobebryant.jpg.webp)Reuters Bryant played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers He famously scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors in 2006, the second-highest single-game total in NBA history. He also won an Oscar for best short animated film in 2018 for Dear Basketball, a five-minute film based on a love letter to the sport he had written in 2015. Bryant and his wife, Vanessa, have three other daughters, Natalia, Bianca and Capri. Bryant was accused of sexual assault in 2003 by a 19-year-old woman working at a Colorado resort. He denied the allegation, saying the two had consensual sex. The case was dropped after the accuser refused to testify in court. He later apologised, saying he recognised that "she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did." A subsequent civil suit was settled out of court. ## What has the reaction been? Tributes for the sports star poured in on social media following news of the crash. Shaquille O'Neal, who played alongside Bryant at the Lakers between 1996 and 2004, said there were "no words to express the pain I'm going through". "I love you and you will be missed," he wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of the pair in their Lakers kits. Deron Williams, who won an Olympic gold alongside Bryant, said he was lost for words. He described Bryant as "the greatest competitor I have ever gone up against and played with". #### Allow Instagram content? This article contains content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read [Meta’s cookie policy](https://privacycenter.instagram.com/policies/cookies/) and [privacy policy](https://privacycenter.instagram.com/policy) before accepting. To view this content choose **‘accept and continue’**. Accept and continue The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Instagram content may contain adverts. ![Presentational white space](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/94C2/production/_109028083_1px_white_line-nc.png.webp) Former basketball player Tony Parker said he was "heartbroken". "Terrible news," tweeted US President Donald Trump. "He loved his family so much, and had such strong passion for the future. The loss of his beautiful daughter, Gianna, makes this moment even more devastating." Former US President Barack Obama described Bryant as "a legend on the court" and said he was "just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act". Eight-time Olympic gold medallist sprinter Usain Bolt said he could not believe the news. Rapper Kanye West tweeted his appreciation for "the life you've lived and all the inspiration you gave". #### Allow X content? This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read [X’s cookie policy](https://help.twitter.com/en/rules-and-policies/twitter-cookies) and [privacy policy](https://twitter.com/en/privacy) before accepting. To view this content choose **‘accept and continue’**. Accept and continue The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. X content may contain adverts. ![Presentational white space](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/94C2/production/_109028083_1px_white_line-nc.png.webp) Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling wrote "rest easy legend" in a tweet accompanied by a black-and-white photo of the sports star. "This is absolutely terrible. Everyone is numb," American actress and model Chrissy Teigen tweeted. Pop star Mariah Carey said she was in shock. Fans gathered at a makeshift memorial for Bryant in front of the Staples Center sports and entertainment arena in Los Angeles, laying flowers and basketballs in memory of the star. ![Reuters La Lakers fans at a vigil outside the Staples Center in Los Angeles, 26 January 2020](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1024x1024/p0hq72jn.png.webp)Reuters ![line](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1024x1024/p0hq72jn.png.webp) [Watch: Kobe Bryant's famous poem, 'Dear Basketball'](https://www.bbc.com/sport/av/basketball/51256110) [Bryant the greatest LA Laker - Johnson](https://www.bbc.com/sport/basketball/42408704) [Kobe Bryant's career in numbers](https://www.bbc.com/sport/basketball/51258733) *** - [Home](https://www.bbc.com/) - [News](https://www.bbc.com/news) - [Sport](https://www.bbc.com/sport) - [Business](https://www.bbc.com/business) - [Technology](https://www.bbc.com/technology) - [Health](https://www.bbc.com/health) - [Culture](https://www.bbc.com/culture) - [Arts](https://www.bbc.com/arts) - [Travel](https://www.bbc.com/travel) - [Earth](https://www.bbc.com/future-planet) - [Audio](https://www.bbc.com/audio) - [Video](https://www.bbc.com/video) - [Live](https://www.bbc.com/live) - [Weather](https://www.bbc.com/weather) - [BBC Shop](https://shop.bbc.com/) - [BritBox](https://www.britbox.com/?utm_source=bbc.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=footer) BBC in other languages ### The BBC is in multiple languages #### Read the BBC In your own language [Oduu Afaan Oromootiin](https://www.bbc.com/afaanoromoo) [Amharic ዜና በአማርኛ](https://www.bbc.com/amharic) [Arabic عربي](https://www.bbc.com/arabic) [Azeri AZƏRBAYCAN](https://www.bbc.com/azeri) [Bangla বাংলা](https://www.bbc.com/bengali) [Burmese မြန်မာ](https://www.bbc.com/burmese) [Chinese 中文网](https://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp) [Dari دری](https://www.bbc.com/dari) [French AFRIQUE](https://www.bbc.com/afrique) [Hausa HAUSA](https://www.bbc.com/hausa) [Hindi हिन्दी](https://www.bbc.com/hindi) [Gaelic NAIDHEACHDAN](https://www.bbc.com/naidheachdan) [Gujarati ગુજરાતીમાં સમાચાર](https://www.bbc.com/gujarati) [Igbo AKỤKỌ N’IGBO](https://www.bbc.com/igbo) [Indonesian INDONESIA](https://www.bbc.com/indonesia) [Japanese 日本語](https://www.bbc.com/japanese) [Kinyarwanda GAHUZA](https://www.bbc.com/gahuza) [Kirundi KIRUNDI](https://www.bbc.com/gahuza) [Korean 한국어](https://www.bbc.com/korean) [Kyrgyz Кыргыз](https://www.bbc.com/kyrgyz) [Marathi मराठी](https://www.bbc.com/marathi) [Nepali नेपाली](https://www.bbc.com/nepali) [Noticias para hispanoparlantes](https://www.bbc.com/mundo) [Pashto پښتو](https://www.bbc.com/pashto) [Persian فارسی](https://www.bbc.com/persian) [Pidgin](https://www.bbc.com/pidgin) [Polish PO POLSKU](https://www.bbc.com/polska) [Portuguese BRASIL](https://www.bbc.com/portuguese) [Punjabi ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਖ਼ਬਰਾਂ](https://www.bbc.com/punjabi) [Russian НА РУССКОМ](https://www.bbc.com/russian) [Serbian NA SRPSKOM](https://www.bbc.com/serbian/lat) [Sinhala සිංහල](https://www.bbc.com/sinhala) [Somali SOMALI](https://www.bbc.com/somali) [Swahili HABARI KWA KISWAHILI](https://www.bbc.com/swahili) [Tamil தமிழில் செய்திகள்](https://www.bbc.com/tamil) [Telugu తెలుగు వార్తలు](https://www.bbc.com/telugu) [Thai ข่าวภาษาไทย](https://www.bbc.com/thai) [Tigrinya ዜና ብትግርኛ](https://www.bbc.com/tigrinya) [Turkish TÜRKÇE](https://www.bbc.com/turkce) [Ukrainian УКРАЇНСЬКA](https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian) [Urdu اردو](https://www.bbc.com/urdu) [Uzbek O'ZBEK](https://www.bbc.com/uzbek) [Vietnamese TIẾNG VIỆT](https://www.bbc.com/vietnamese) [Welsh NEWYDDION](https://www.bbc.com/cymrufyw) [Yoruba ÌRÒYÌN NÍ YORÙBÁ](https://www.bbc.com/yoruba) Follow BBC on: - [Terms of Use](https://www.bbc.com/pages/terms-of-use) - [Subscription Terms](https://www.bbc.com/pages/subscription-terms) - [About the BBC](https://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc) - [Privacy Policy](https://www.bbc.com/pages/privacy-policy) - [Cookies](https://www.bbc.com/usingthebbc/cookies/) - [Accessibility Help](https://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility/) - [Contact the BBC](https://www.bbc.co.uk/contact) - [Advertise with us](https://advertising.bbcstudios.com/) - [Do not share or sell my info](https://www.bbc.com/usingthebbc/cookies/how-can-i-change-my-bbc-cookie-settings/) - [BBC.com Help & FAQs](https://help.bbc.com/hc/) - [Content Index](https://www.bbc.com/pages/content-index) - [Set Preferred Source](https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20260128-how-to-make-google-put-trusted-sources-up-top-when-you-search) Copyright 2026 BBC. 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27 January 2020 This video has been removed for rights reasons **US basketball legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna were among nine people killed in a helicopter crash in the city of Calabasas, California.** Bryant, 41, and Gianna, 13, were travelling in a private helicopter when it came down and burst into flames. The LA county sheriff said there were no survivors. Bryant, a five-time NBA champion, played for the LA Lakers throughout his career and is considered one of the greatest players in the game's history. Tributes from celebrities and fellow sports stars have been pouring in, many expressing shock at his sudden death. Moments of silence have been observed at basketball games across the US. Bryant was also remembered [at the Grammy Awards](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-51240210), which were held at the Staples Center, the Los Angeles Lakers' stadium, on Sunday night. "We're all feeling crazy sadness right now," said host Alicia Keys. "Because earlier today Los Angeles, America and the whole wide world lost a hero. We're literally standing here heartbroken in the house that Kobe Bryant built." Alicia Keys and Lizzo lead tributes to Kobe Bryant at the Grammys The National Basketball Association issued a statement saying it was "devastated by the tragic passing of Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna". "For 20 seasons, Kobe showed us what is possible when remarkable talent blends with an absolute devotion to winning," it said. What do we know about the crash? Sheriff Alex Villanueva said the helicopter's manifest indicated that nine people were on board when it crashed, raising the number from five in earlier statements by officials. Coroners have not officially named the victims. But family members and colleagues said John Altobelli, coach of the Orange Coast College basketball team, was among the passengers, along with his wife Keri and their 13-year-old daughter Alyssa - who played with Bryant's daughter, Gianna. Christina Mauser, a basketball coach at Gianna's school, was also on board, her husband wrote on Facebook. LA Sheriff Alex Villanueva confirms there were no survivors in the helicopter crash In a statement on Sunday afternoon, the City of Calabasas said it heard the news "with great sadness". "The aircraft went down in a remote field off Las Virgenes around 10:00 this morning. Nobody on the ground was hurt," it added. - [Reaction and tributes as NBA legend dies in helicopter crash](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/basketball/51258731) - [World sport stars and celebrities pay tribute to basketball legend](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/basketball/51257956) - [Kobe Bryant's career in numbers](https://www.bbc.com/sport/basketball/51258733) Gavin Masak, who lives nearby, told CBS News of the moment the helicopter crashed. "It wasn't exactly like an explosion sound but it was like a loud boom. It sounded like a helicopter, but it sounded like a jet, like it was loud, so I went inside and told my dad what was happening. So when I came out I saw smoke on the hill but it wasn't like a big, black cloud of smoke, it was just grey," he said. Site where basketball legend Kobe Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash Other eyewitnesses told celebrity news site TMZ they heard the helicopter's engine sputtering before it went down. The LA County Sheriff's Department shared pictures from the scene of the accident, showing a fire truck and smoke emerging from the hills. #### Allow X content? This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read and before accepting. To view this content choose **‘accept and continue’**. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. X content may contain adverts. ![Presentational white space](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/94C2/production/_109028083_1px_white_line-nc.png.webp) The National Transportation Safety Board identified the crashed helicopter as a Sikorsky S-76B and said it was sending a team to investigate the crash. Police have asked people to stay away from the crash site in order not to interfere with the investigation. Why was Kobe Bryant so famous? Bryant played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers. He retired in April 2016. His achievements include being the 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) and two-time NBA Finals' MVP. He was also NBA scoring champion twice and a two-time Olympic champion. ![Reuters Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant plays a game in Los Angeles, on 21 May 2009.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/8DF9/production/_110654363_kobebryant.jpg.webp)Reuters Bryant played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers He famously scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors in 2006, the second-highest single-game total in NBA history. He also won an Oscar for best short animated film in 2018 for Dear Basketball, a five-minute film based on a love letter to the sport he had written in 2015. Bryant and his wife, Vanessa, have three other daughters, Natalia, Bianca and Capri. Bryant was accused of sexual assault in 2003 by a 19-year-old woman working at a Colorado resort. He denied the allegation, saying the two had consensual sex. The case was dropped after the accuser refused to testify in court. He later apologised, saying he recognised that "she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did." A subsequent civil suit was settled out of court. What has the reaction been? Tributes for the sports star poured in on social media following news of the crash. Shaquille O'Neal, who played alongside Bryant at the Lakers between 1996 and 2004, said there were "no words to express the pain I'm going through". "I love you and you will be missed," he wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of the pair in their Lakers kits. Deron Williams, who won an Olympic gold alongside Bryant, said he was lost for words. He described Bryant as "the greatest competitor I have ever gone up against and played with". #### Allow Instagram content? This article contains content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read and before accepting. To view this content choose **‘accept and continue’**. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Instagram content may contain adverts. ![Presentational white space](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/94C2/production/_109028083_1px_white_line-nc.png.webp) Former basketball player Tony Parker said he was "heartbroken". "Terrible news," tweeted US President Donald Trump. "He loved his family so much, and had such strong passion for the future. The loss of his beautiful daughter, Gianna, makes this moment even more devastating." Former US President Barack Obama described Bryant as "a legend on the court" and said he was "just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act". Eight-time Olympic gold medallist sprinter Usain Bolt said he could not believe the news. Rapper Kanye West tweeted his appreciation for "the life you've lived and all the inspiration you gave". #### Allow X content? This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read and before accepting. To view this content choose **‘accept and continue’**. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. X content may contain adverts. ![Presentational white space](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/94C2/production/_109028083_1px_white_line-nc.png.webp) Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling wrote "rest easy legend" in a tweet accompanied by a black-and-white photo of the sports star. "This is absolutely terrible. Everyone is numb," American actress and model Chrissy Teigen tweeted. Pop star Mariah Carey said she was in shock. Fans gathered at a makeshift memorial for Bryant in front of the Staples Center sports and entertainment arena in Los Angeles, laying flowers and basketballs in memory of the star. ![Reuters La Lakers fans at a vigil outside the Staples Center in Los Angeles, 26 January 2020](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1024x1024/p0hq72jn.png.webp)Reuters ![line](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1024x1024/p0hq72jn.png.webp)
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