'We will all miss this great star': Chinese fans grieve for NBA superstar Kobe Bryant
Bryant, a five-time NBA champion was among the first American stars to garner a large fan base in the country.
Chinese fans expressed their grief on Monday (January 27) after one of National Basketball Association's (NBA) all-time greatest players Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash near Los Angeles.
He remained popular in China after his retirement in 2016, frequently engaging via social media with Chinese fans.
Bryant rocketed to fame as an 18-year-old rookie and played 20 years for the Los Angeles Lakers. Nicknamed the "Black Mamba," he was named to the NBA all-star team 18 times and won five NBA championships.
