NBA legend Kobe Bryant dies in helicopter crash
NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, were among nine people killed in a helicopter crash in Los Angeles on Sunday, authorities said. Bryant was 41.
The Federal Aviation Administration said a Sikorsky S-76 helicopter crashed around 10 a.m. near Calabasas. It's unclear what caused the crash. An investigation is ongoing.
Kobe Bean Bryant was born in Philadelphia on August 23, 1978. He grew up in Italy where his father, Joe "Jellybean" Bryant, played professional basketball after his own NBA career.
At 17 years old, Bryant was drafted out of high school in 1996, becoming the youngest player in NBA history. The 6-foot-6 swingman gave himself the nickname "Black Mamba," a testament to his fierce, competitive nature.
Latest updates: The world mourns the loss of Kobe Bryant
Bryant, who is considered one of the greatest basketball players in history, played all 20 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, winning three consecutive championships in 2000, 2001 and 2002. He went on to win two more in 2009 and 2010.
In addition to his five titles, Bryant is the fourth-leading scorer in NBA history. He was selected to the all-star 18 times and earned an MVP award in 2008. He was a 12-time member of the all-defensive team and made the all-NBA team 15 times. Bryant retired in 2016 and was among several high-profile nominees for the NBA's 2020 Hall of Fame class.
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