JUST IN: Basketball Great, Kobe Bryant Dies In Helicopter Crash
Basketball legend, Kobe Bryant is dead. The 41-year-old former LA Lakers star is reported to have died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, on Sunday morning.
TMZ broke the story, reporting that Bryant was traveling with four other people in his private helicopter when it burst into flames amid foggy conditions in the hills above Calabasas. There are unconfirmed reports that one of the other four passengers on the chopper was his daughter.
The 6-foot-6 guard who spent 20 years with the Lakers made his pro debut in the 1996-97 season opener against Minnesota. At the time, he was the youngest player ever to appear in an NBA game.
In what happened to be his last tweet on Twitter, Bryant had congratulated Lebron James on surpassing his point total in the NBA.
“Continuing to move the game forward @KingJames. Much respect my brother,” he wrote, only a few hours before the crash.
Continuing to move the game forward @KingJames. Much respect my brother 💪🏾 #33644
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) January 26, 2020
Bryant won five NBA championships with the Lakers and was the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 2008.
