Sgt. Joseph A. Lee
Audio By Carbonatix
Update: 4:44 p.m. – According to Los Angeles County authorities, nine people, eight passengers and the pilot, died in the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna, 13.
Los Angeles Lakers superstar and five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash in California on Sunday morning, the Los Angeles Times and multiple media outlets confirmed. Four others, according to the Times, died in the crash and have yet to be identified. Bryant was 41 years old.
As news of Bryant’s death broke Sunday afternoon, Dallas took to social media to mourn.
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban was reflective, while several Mavs players remained in disbelief after the crash.
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We can never forget how precious life is. How those who are special to you and never let them forget how deeply you love them
— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) January 26, 2020
To all of my friends, thank you. Each of you have shared part of yourself with me and made my life better. I have tried to do the same. If you were here I would hug you like I just hugged my family. It hurts that it takes a tragedy to remind us of our mortality.#hugyourfriends
— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) January 26, 2020
NO PLEASE
— Luka Doncic (@luka7doncic) January 26, 2020
Please tell me this kobe news is fake please
— Jalen Brunson (@jalenbrunson1) January 26, 2020
WFAA sports reporter Mike Leslie remembered Bryant at his on-the-court best, the night he scored 81 points against the Raptors.
One of my most crystallized sports memories was being a Sr. in HS in ‘06, & coming downstairs for breakfast to see on SportsCenter that Kobe Bryant had scored 81 pts the night before. I was stunned, and sat there gleefully watching every last highlight, watching history. #RIPKobe
— Mike Leslie (@MikeLeslieWFAA) January 26, 2020
Political leaders from across the ideological spectrum paid tribute to Bryant as well.
I’m in disbelief. Kobe Bryant was a fierce competitor who represented excellence and persistence to my generation.
— Mayor Eric Johnson (@Johnson4Dallas) January 26, 2020
My heart goes out to his family and to the families of all those who died in this horrific tragedy. A reminder to the rest of us that life is precious. https://t.co/iiVpxqagPO
Kobe Bryant killed in California helicopter crash.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) January 26, 2020
Such a tragic loss in the sports world.https://t.co/PEfUlz7EFE via @nypostsports
