His sudden death at age 41 touching off an outpouring of grief for a star whose celebrity transcended basketball.
The chopper went down in Calabasas, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Authorities said that nine people died, with no survivors, after earlier putting the death toll at five. Bryant, an all-time basketball great who spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, was among the victims, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.
A different person familiar with the case confirmed that Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna was also killed.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva would not confirm the identities of the victims Sunday afternoon pending official word from the coroner.
The chopper went down in Calabasas, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Authorities said that nine people died, with no survivors, after earlier putting the death toll at five. Bryant, an all-time basketball great who spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, was among the victims, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.
A different person familiar with the case confirmed that Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna was also killed.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva would not confirm the identities of the victims Sunday afternoon pending official word from the coroner.
Bryant, retired in 2016 as the 3-leading scorer in NBA history, finishing two decades with the Lakers as a prolific scorer with a sublime all-around game and a relentless competitive ethic. He held that spot in the league scoring ranks until Saturday night, when the Lakers’ LeBron James passed him for third place during a game in Philadelphia, Bryant’s hometown.
from Associated Press
Life is really nothing, do whatever make you happy and fulfilled. May their souls rest in peace. Amen
ReplyDeleteI can't stop reading this
DeleteI didn't know him but I send my condolences.
Daddy's twin gone alone
Even heard her coach, wife and a child was in the helicopter also
May their soul RIP
A well respected baseball coach, his wife and daughter also died in the crash. Rip
DeleteAnon 08:51, stop watching anogiri news....His wife is alive
DeleteAproko, you didn't get it. Anon is talking about the coach and his own family not Bryant. What a life.
DeleteAnon 8:51 where are you getting those lies from?
DeleteAproko learn to read. Anon was not referring to Kobe's wife 🙄
DeleteWhat a heartbreaking news. May their souls rest in peace
DeleteWow...this is really sad! I feel like crying☹ then imagine d other family, a coach n his wife with a daughter who also died leaving behind one daughter! Chai!
DeleteGod hav mercy!
I just cant imagine me left behind,wen my entire family is gone *shivers* I will kuku drink sniper n go too abeg! It's too sad
I was in shock the whole of yesterday. What a shame. RIP Kobe, Gianna and the Altobelli’s. It is well.
DeleteDear lord please if you truly exist! Please make this news untrue.
ReplyDeleteRewind this day and make the helicopter develop fault so they won’t make it.
This is so hard to believe! Wet my bed in tears because I know how it feels to lose someone in this horrific way!
Two families lost lives!
Is this your way of showing us your great strength lord??
We have horrible politicians who use jet all the time, why not take their lives and liberate Nigerians from their suffering?
Why the innocent who try their best to help the poor and give back to society.
Why are the bad ones still roaming the earth?
Why does the devil protect its own and you don’t?
I’m just so hurt!
It's so devastating. What is NBA without Kobe, even in retirement.
DeleteHonestly, Kerry, u took the words out of my mouth ...i dnt kno dem personally bt i av jst been sad since i heard d news. .like, there are alot of bad pple dt could av taken his place. .Evil politicians,terrorists etc. ..yet dose ones dnt even fall sick..dey live on. ..so sad. ..
DeleteKerry, I cried myself to sleep. Kobe was the reason I watched basketball. Such tragic news!
DeleteWhen the breaking news was aired, my screams got everyone running into the family room.
But it wasn't God that made that horrible crash happen. The devil roams around seeking whom to devour - he hates anything good.
"My brain. . it cannot process failure. It will not process failure. Because if I sit there and have to face myself and tell myself, ‘You’re a failure’ . . . I think that’s almost worse than death." - Kobe Bryant, basketball legend, RIP
RIP to all of them.
ReplyDeleteThis is the saddest news this January. A whole family died then father and daughter? Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God.
DeleteNews of Kobe Bryant, his daughter gigi and coach yesterday came as a shock to me. May their find rest in you Lord.
DeleteThis one shocked me yesterday...How can someone work so so hard and died by the fruits of their labour.. He has all the money to maintain that helicopter what then happened up there.
ReplyDeleteImagine the fear, scream and acceptance knowing their end has come as it was crashing.. Ahhh.
This is so so sad ...
You think its by maintanace?
DeletePart of the problem was the very poor visibility due to the weather.
DeleteMy dear......there are no words to express such fear , acceptance and sadness. Whoaaaaaaa
DeleteAnd who told you the helicopter was faulty? According to American media, the helicopter hit a hill, and visibility reduced due to fog...more investigation follows...but no.. Helicopter wasn't faulty.
DeleteThis hurt differentlyðŸ˜ðŸ˜
DeleteCookie, you expressed how I feel. ðŸ˜ðŸ˜
DeleteI’m so heartbroken. Some may say I have too much water in my eyes because I’ve not been able to stop crying. It’s so painful. The thought that he was rhere with his daughter and she was probably screaming I fear and holding him tight and there was nothing he could do to save her that I just can’t get over
DeleteSaddest news yesterday. Their last baby is not even up to a year old! Jeeeeezzzz...such sad news! Prayers for his family left behind.
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw the news on the gram yesterday I immediately logged out hoping it will be a false news, after some minutes I went to check the gram and I started seeing all the post of him, immediately I thought of the little girl that would never know her dad. This one touched me so much, I can't even imagine what is wife and daughters would be going through. I pray God comfort all the families that lost their loved ones and cover them with his love.
DeleteHmmmmn, I feel so bad about this. I just wonder how the wife and family will feel. Chai, I remember Shac and Kobe that year. May God grant them rest and give the family Grace to move on.
ReplyDeleteChina might make today a holiday to mourn Kobe, hes like a small god to them, the crowd he pulls in China/Japan, even Putin and Trump put together wouldnt match.
ReplyDeleteI'm still in denial over his demise, some people arent just meant to die, they should just evolve into one giant beautiful flower in the suburbs.
RIP Gianna and Lakers Legend, no one saw this coming, not even the fake prophets.
this life ehn, such a thin line between life and death, I felt so bad yesterday
ReplyDeleteThis is so sad, May God grant his wife Vanessa the fortitude to bear this great loss, 3 family members where also listed as those on board can't imagine what these families are going through, lossing 2/3 people at once is so heart breaking
ReplyDeleteThere's a video of how a cartoon series showed he died by same crash. It was aired on comedy central on 28/12/2017... legends of the Chamberlain
ReplyDeleteI had to run to YouTube to watch it before it is taken down.
DeleteThe moment I heard his death, I shook my head cos I know exactly what it was.
They belong to all sorts of societies. It's just unfortunate his daughter and another family was involved.
Movies like supernatural etc aren't just movies. They tell you exactly how this superstars get to the apex of their career, the time frame given to live and the price they have to pay.
I'm sure he knew it was coming.
Rest in power Kobe.
What!
Delete@DavinaRose you know this! But people are just blinded to see
DeleteDavinaRose, ypou are sure?? Please keep shut!!!!!!!!
DeleteHe knew it coming and he let his daughter be there? some of you have brains clogged with Mud!!! I am not even going to argue about him belonging to a society but saying YOU ARE SURE HE KNEW as if he told you!!!
Cookie he may not know it will involve his daughter. To think his daughter was the one taking after his footsteps since he had no male child... these things are more than coincidence! Have you wondered why a celeb dies during awards season? Especially that Grammy award, these things are more than coincidence.
DeleteYesterday one sky reporter that was reporting the news mistakenly mentioned illuminati...the freemasons are real!
Stupid cookie. How dare you tell me to shut up. I am free to say whatever. Just as I cant tell you what to type. Be careful and watch your disgusting mouth.
DeleteBack to your stupid comment. He saw it coming doesn't mean he knew when. Even Michael during his last days from his documentaries and statements from his kids knew it was coming. The how and when is what they dont know. Take out time to listen to some of Kobe's recent interviews and put on your thinking cap while at it.
This is a Tragic loss.
Terrible news stella.its so sad..Daughter and father the same day,its crazy..This life though..
ReplyDeleteThis is sad. May their souls rest in peace
ReplyDeleteThis is so tragic, such a successful young man. May his gentle soul rest in peace
ReplyDeleteVery sad. May God comfort his family. Losing a husband and a child, I’ll never recover from that. May God protect us all.
ReplyDeleteReal tragedy :(
ReplyDeleteThe one I find most shocking is the ‘ I never chop’ Nigerians flooding social media with condolence messages and carrying his picture ‘on their heads’. Ki lo kan yin ! Let America mourn its dead. When your own yeyebrities die they don’t even acknowledge that you are human beings talk less of giving condolence messages. Book haram is decimating your people daily and you guys say absolutely nothing on your social media pages about this. Nigerians are so shameless and their self worth/esteem is right there in the gutters. It is only ‘abroad’ issues they put their crooked teeth/mouth inside. Tueh 🤮
ReplyDeleteStella I must not look for my comment. Someone has to say the truth. Nigerians have the worst case of INFERIORITY COMPLEX
Shut up abeg!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteHe was a hero! Death is a painful thing! Let the known and unknown mourn him.
DeleteI hate seeing comment like this!
It doesn’t matter if it’s for clout!
Let them mourn his demise!
It’s their data!
Stop calling Nigerians hypocrites.
Let them mourn him, he deserves every tribute.
Complex Complexer Complexest
DeleteIt is highly unfortunate and incredibly sad
Sheeple
Okay sir/ma
DeleteLet people grieve the lose of those they love. If they dont say a word about anyones death, what does that tell you? THEY DONT CARE!! Na by force to care?
DeletePeople died and this is all you have to say? You are a terrible being.
DeleteHe is being mourned as a human everyone "knew ". It's the human in us that make us mourn him not because he is an American.
We have 'inferiority complex' for mourning a human being that died? For being sympathetic as a fellow human being should? My dear, Anon 8;57,you are likely a sociopath. May God help you.
DeleteWhy are you so angry tho. Remember life is short. Get rid of this anger and free your mind. It's not worth be angry at Nigerians, Nigerians are already going through a lot
DeleteThank you BVs fOr helping me reply this heartless soul. My first comment was filled with typo errors. Nonsense
DeleteYou cant decide for the heart.
DeleteThe heart loves who the heart loves.
It'd grieve deeply, depending on the gravity of love.
There are some family members lose that wouldnt give me so mch pain as mch as i feel about Bryant right now.
08:57 you are terrible soul. Let them mourn him however they want to. Let your hate not kill you! Mind your terrible business. This man pulled me out of depression though I haven't met him in real life. Will you then ask me not to mourn him!
DeleteLoss*
DeleteYou're a HORRIBLE person. A beast in human form. How dare you tell people how to grieve? That havemost Nigeriansn't met him one on one doesn't mean they haven't watched him play? Do you know how many Nigerians/Africans he has inspired? You are a beast and God will have mercy on you.
DeleteYOU ARE MAD!!!!! The way some of you are insensitive in trying to sound woke is just disgusting!!!!
DeleteInfact just get out abeg
The way some of you reason though, so shallow.
DeleteSometimes, It is just not about the death, It is the circumstances surrounding the death, the suddenness, the personality of the person and the impact the person has made, moreso, daughter and father perished and all other families in the twinkle of an eye.
It is tragic, whether Nigerian or American or British, first we are humans,let people mourn him.
It is also a reminder to everyone of us mourning how tomorrow is not guaranteed.
All of you ori yin ti daru ! I will wait to see how you will mourn your own when the time comes. Na abroad issue go kill all of you. See the words you are using, grieving , mourning, ki lo kan yin ?? Somebody that you have absolutely no business with, some people are even saying on Instagram that they could not sleep well. Meanwhile there are people in your different families that need this care o, but no, you will ignore them till they die. Awon werey !! Enter the grave with the dead so that I will know you are really hurting from this incident. Misguided fools.
DeleteErnest asuzu is there begging all over the place, you people are looking away and pouring encomiums on a dead American . God will judge all of you
DeleteAnon 12:54 God will judge you too
DeleteAnon 12:43 hopefully someone will mourn you when you die
Your issues are deeper than his death. Go and fix it and stop transferring aggression, nonsense.
Delete@ Ernest's spokesman, them forbid you to help him? How much have you sent??
Anon 12:43 you sound unsound. I don't even have words for you.
DeleteMay their souls rest in peace. 💔💔💔😢😫😥
ReplyDeleteLord have mercy,RIP to their souls
ReplyDeleteLife is so fragile. This is the worst death news of the new decade.
ReplyDeleteDotnoso said it in 2012 that he will die through helicopter and eight years later, it came to pass. He saw the future.
His daughter was a shinning star and the other family that perished with him.
May God have mercy on their souls and grant them eternal rest.
Life is fleeting! I was beyond shocked when I saw the news last night.. then the horrible comments on Tmz worsened it. People are so mean 😥
ReplyDeleteRIP Kobe and Gianna 💔💔💔
Very tragic,a huge loss. There are really no words,life is but a fleeting moment. We are faced with our mortality every single day. Live well guys,we never know. Sending prayers to all the families connected to this tragedy and all his fans around the world. Rest in peace Kobe,Gigi and the others(for not knowing their names).
ReplyDeleteI'm a big fan of Kobe Bryant, his death was really painful...
ReplyDeleteSending love and strength to the families of the departed........ There are no words, no words, God!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is very very sad.. Saw it in the news this morning...a good friend lost his son and i learnt about it this morning as well. Father let your mercy continue to sustain us. May their souls rest in peace. 😢
ReplyDeleteThis is so sad.. RIp...
ReplyDeleteLife is fickle. This life is not our own. This world is not our home. Let's be eternity conscious. It doesn't end here.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteYou realize those are laughing emojis right? 😓
DeleteLearn how to use emojis correctly.
DeleteTomorrow isn't promised, anything can happen at any time,That is why to live in Christ is d only assurance to eternal life..life oh life, I was shocked to hear d heartbreaking news yesterday.. God comfort d families he left behind,RIP to them!!
ReplyDeleteSuch a sad news. God rest their souls.
ReplyDeleteOMG!
ReplyDeleteThis is really sad
Comfort to his family and other families who lost loved ones
There are some people who are saying we do not celebrate people in their lifetime why celebrate them in their death, to those people, I say to you, you are yet to understand life and I truly hope you understand life one day. Rest on Kobe, I never knew you, besides your name,face and personal stories that made its way to the news, however, people say how much of a great player you were, the best after Michael Jordan (didnt know him either but I will be damned if he isnt celebrated too if something like this happend to him God forbid). this hit really hard and my feelings are valid.
ReplyDeleteThank you jare!!!
DeleteI’m shocked! You don’t know Michael Jordan?
Delete@alternative facts besides seeing him in the courts as a basketballer and a really good one. Do You know him, I mean really know him?
Delete*on
DeleteRIP kobe.i don't know you but your death really touch me like a family. May God console your family and the families of those that died in that helicopter.
ReplyDeleteSo sad,i cant imagine what his family will be going through
ReplyDeleteRIP Kobe and family!!
ReplyDeleteThis really touched me. Kobe made me fall in love with basketball. Mennn! This hurts.
ReplyDeleteKeep resting with your maker Kobe, Gianna and the remaining departed soul. This hurts so much!
Truly,this world is mnot our permanent home. Imagine all the hardwork put in place to become a legend termenated within a twinkle of an eye. RIP Kobe and Giañna
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 10:01 &10:49, thanks for your correction. We learn from our mistakes everyday.
So sad. My crush that year.
ReplyDeleteI'm yet to get over Michael Jackson and now this...
ReplyDeleteRip to Kobe and all that were on board with him.
ReplyDelete