01-26-2020, 09:15 PM
By Aaron Feis
January 26, 2020 | 2:38pm
Legendary NBA player Kobe Bryant has died in a California helicopter crash,
reports said Sunday.
He was 41.
Bryant was among at least four people traveling in his private helicopter over
Calabasas when a fire broke out, sending the chopper spiraling from the sky,
according to TMZ Sports.
The crash occurred around 10 a.m. local time amid foggy conditions in the hills
overlooking Calabasas, with the chopper sparking a brush fire on impact that
hampered initial rescue efforts, according to The Los Angeles Times.
There were no survivors, and the cause of the crash is under investigation,
according to TMZ.
Authorities investigating the crash confirmed to KTLA – Channel 5 that at least
five people were killed in the crash, but did not identify the victims by name.
Bryant’s wife, Vanessa, was not among those aboard the chopper, according to reports.
He is also survived by the couple’s four daughters, with the youngest born just last June.
![[Image: afp_1oe559.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=928]](https://thenypost.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/afp_1oe559.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=928)
Kobe Bryant drives against the Memphis Grizzlies during a 2015 game the Staples Center.
AFP via Getty Images
Bryant starred for two decades with the Los Angeles Lakers, winning five
championships and making 18 All-Star Games before hanging up his
basketball shoes following the 2016 season.
The stunning death of the sweet-shooting guard came just hours after he
toasted fellow NBA icon and current Laker LeBron James for passing him
for third place on the league’s all-time scoring list.
“Continuing to move the game forward @KingJames,”
wrote Bryant on Saturday night in what would prove to be
his final tweet.
“Much respect my brother.”
Bryant concluded the message with an emoji of a bicep flexing,
and the hashtag “#33644,” one point more than he scored in his
illustrious career.
Bryant was considered a lock to be among the next class inducted
into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, set to be
announced next month.
![[Image: kobe_crash_scene.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=915]](https://thenypost.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/kobe_crash_scene.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=915)
The scene of the helicopter crash.
LA County Sheriff's Department
![[Image: kobe-bryant-crash.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=915]](https://thenypost.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/kobe-bryant-crash.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=915)
The scene of the helicopter crash.
LA County Sheriff's Department
![[Image: kobe-bryant-2.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=640]](https://thenypost.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/kobe-bryant-2.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=640)
The scene of the crash in Calabasas.
IXOLA / BACKGRID
January 26, 2020 | 2:38pm
Legendary NBA player Kobe Bryant has died in a California helicopter crash,
reports said Sunday.
He was 41.
Bryant was among at least four people traveling in his private helicopter over
Calabasas when a fire broke out, sending the chopper spiraling from the sky,
according to TMZ Sports.
The crash occurred around 10 a.m. local time amid foggy conditions in the hills
overlooking Calabasas, with the chopper sparking a brush fire on impact that
hampered initial rescue efforts, according to The Los Angeles Times.
There were no survivors, and the cause of the crash is under investigation,
according to TMZ.
Authorities investigating the crash confirmed to KTLA – Channel 5 that at least
five people were killed in the crash, but did not identify the victims by name.
Bryant’s wife, Vanessa, was not among those aboard the chopper, according to reports.
He is also survived by the couple’s four daughters, with the youngest born just last June.
Kobe Bryant drives against the Memphis Grizzlies during a 2015 game the Staples Center.
AFP via Getty Images
Bryant starred for two decades with the Los Angeles Lakers, winning five
championships and making 18 All-Star Games before hanging up his
basketball shoes following the 2016 season.
The stunning death of the sweet-shooting guard came just hours after he
toasted fellow NBA icon and current Laker LeBron James for passing him
for third place on the league’s all-time scoring list.
“Continuing to move the game forward @KingJames,”
wrote Bryant on Saturday night in what would prove to be
his final tweet.
“Much respect my brother.”
Bryant concluded the message with an emoji of a bicep flexing,
and the hashtag “#33644,” one point more than he scored in his
illustrious career.
Bryant was considered a lock to be among the next class inducted
into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, set to be
announced next month.
The scene of the helicopter crash.
LA County Sheriff's Department
The scene of the helicopter crash.
LA County Sheriff's Department
The scene of the crash in Calabasas.
IXOLA / BACKGRID
