Kobe Bryant
1978–2020Lakers legend, teen daughter killed in helicopter crash
Kobe Bryant at Staples Center in Los Angeles when his No. 8 and No. 24 Lakers jerseys were retired in 2017. (Getty Images)
The Lakers star and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, were aboard a helicopter that crashed roughly 30 miles northwest of Los Angeles with as many as nine people aboard, authorities said.
A five-time NBA champion and a two-time Olympic gold medalist, Bryant was considered one of the greatest basketball players of his generation.
Bryant’s death reverberates beyond sports
Athletes and fans were stunned as the death of someone who was larger than life in sports and culture began to register.
