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The World Pays Tribute to Basketball Legend Kobe Bryant

Published January 28th, 2020 - 07:24 GMT

Los Angeles Lakers icon Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, were among nine killed in a helicopter crash Sunday in Calabasas, Calif.

College baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife Keri and daughter Alyssa, a player on Bryant's basketball team at Mamba Sports Academy, were also killed. Orange Coast College, where John Altobelli coached, confirmed the deaths in a statement Sunday night.

Kobe Bryant was one of the most extraordinary players in the history of our game with accomplishments that are legendary: five NBA championships, an NBA MVP award, 18 NBA All-Star selections, and two Olympic gold medals. But he will be remembered for inspiring people around the world to pick up a basketball and compete to the very best of their ability.

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DALLAS, TEXAS - JANUARY 27: The Dallas Stars honor NBA legend Kobe Bryant during a pregame moment of silence before taking on the Tampa Bay Lightning at American Airlines Center on January 27, 2020 in Dallas, Texas. Tom Pennington/Getty Images/AFP TOM PENNINGTON / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP

DALLAS, TEXAS - JANUARY 27: The Dallas Stars honor NBA legend Kobe Bryant during a pregame moment of silence before taking on the Tampa Bay Lightning at American Airlines Center on January 27, 2020 in Dallas, Texas. Tom Pennington/Getty Images/AFP TOM PENNINGTON / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP

A woman cries in front of a makeshift memorial for former NBA and Los Angeles Lakers player Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant, who were killed with seven others in a helicopter crash on January 26, at LA Live plaza in front of Staples Center in Los Angeles on January 27, 2020. Federal investigators sifted through the wreckage of the helicopter crash that killed basketball legend Kobe Bryant and eight other people, hoping to find clues to what caused the accident that stunned the world. Apu GOMES /

A woman cries in front of a makeshift memorial for former NBA and Los Angeles Lakers player Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant, who were killed with seven others in a helicopter crash on January 26, at LA Live plaza in front of Staples Center in Los Angeles on January 27, 2020. Federal investigators sifted through the wreckage of the helicopter crash that killed basketball legend Kobe Bryant and eight other people, hoping to find clues to what caused the accident that stunned the world. Apu GOMES / AFP

A note is written on the pavement as fans mourn the death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, who was killed along with his daughter and seven others in a helicopter crash on January 26, at LA Live plaza in front of Staples Center in Los Angeles on January 27, 2020. Federal investigators sifted through the wreckage of the helicopter crash that killed basketball legend Kobe Bryant and eight other people, hoping to find clues to what caused the accident that stunned the world. Robyn Beck / AFP

A note is written on the pavement as fans mourn the death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, who was killed along with his daughter and seven others in a helicopter crash on January 26, at LA Live plaza in front of Staples Center in Los Angeles on January 27, 2020. Federal investigators sifted through the wreckage of the helicopter crash that killed basketball legend Kobe Bryant and eight other people, hoping to find clues to what caused the accident that stunned the world. Robyn Beck / AFP

A basketball with the words "KB & 24 Forever" written on it and white roses are placed at a makeshift memorial as fans gather to the mourn the death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, who was killed along with his daughter and seven others in a helicopter crash on January 26, at LA Live plaza in front of Staples Center in Los Angeles on January 27, 2020. Federal investigators sifted through the wreckage of the helicopter crash that killed basketball legend Kobe Bryant and eight other people, hoping to find clues to

A basketball with the words "KB & 24 Forever" written on it and white roses are placed at a makeshift memorial as fans gather to the mourn the death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, who was killed along with his daughter and seven others in a helicopter crash on January 26, at LA Live plaza in front of Staples Center in Los Angeles on January 27, 2020. Federal investigators sifted through the wreckage of the helicopter crash that killed basketball legend Kobe Bryant and eight other people, hoping to find clues to what caused the accident that stunned the world. Frederic J. BROWN / AFP

A person walks past a restaurant with "24" painted on the window as people mourn the death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, who was killed along with his daughter and seven others in a helicopter crash on January 26, in Los Angeles on January 27, 2020. Federal investigators sifted through the wreckage of the helicopter crash that killed basketball legend Kobe Bryant and eight other people, hoping to find clues to what caused the accident that stunned the world. Frederic J. BROWN / AFP

A person walks past a restaurant with "24" painted on the window as people mourn the death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, who was killed along with his daughter and seven others in a helicopter crash on January 26, in Los Angeles on January 27, 2020. Federal investigators sifted through the wreckage of the helicopter crash that killed basketball legend Kobe Bryant and eight other people, hoping to find clues to what caused the accident that stunned the world. Frederic J. BROWN / AFP

Children plays basket with paper balls in a trash can in front of a makeshift memorial for former NBA and Los Angeles Lakers player Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant, who were killed with seven others in a helicopter crash on January 26, at LA Live plaza in front of Staples Center in Los Angeles on January 27, 2020. Federal investigators sifted through the wreckage of the helicopter crash that killed basketball legend Kobe Bryant and eight other people, hoping to find clues to what caused the accid

Children plays basket with paper balls in a trash can in front of a makeshift memorial for former NBA and Los Angeles Lakers player Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant, who were killed with seven others in a helicopter crash on January 26, at LA Live plaza in front of Staples Center in Los Angeles on January 27, 2020. Federal investigators sifted through the wreckage of the helicopter crash that killed basketball legend Kobe Bryant and eight other people, hoping to find clues to what caused the accident that stunned the world. Apu GOMES / AFP

The NBA has had many stars but few international icons on the scale of Kobe Bryant. Raised in Italy for seven years of his childhood, Bryant was fluent in Italian and was an ideal draw for a league that had seen basketball as a global game (Twitter)

The NBA has had many stars but few international icons on the scale of Kobe Bryant. Raised in Italy for seven years of his childhood, Bryant was fluent in Italian and was an ideal draw for a league that had seen basketball as a global game (Twitter)

A mural of Kobe Bryant and GiGi was painted on a basketball court in the Philippines(Twitter)

A mural of Kobe Bryant and GiGi was painted on a basketball court in the Philippines(Twitter)

There was no player held in higher esteem by today’s NBA players than Kobe Bryant (Twitter)

There was no player held in higher esteem by today’s NBA players than Kobe Bryant (Twitter)

DALLAS, TEXAS - JANUARY 27: The Dallas Stars honor NBA legend Kobe Bryant during a pregame moment of silence before taking on the Tampa Bay Lightning at American Airlines Center on January 27, 2020 in Dallas, Texas. Tom Pennington/Getty Images/AFP TOM PENNINGTON / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP
A woman cries in front of a makeshift memorial for former NBA and Los Angeles Lakers player Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant, who were killed with seven others in a helicopter crash on January 26, at LA Live plaza in front of Staples Center in Los Angeles on January 27, 2020. Federal investigators sifted through the wreckage of the helicopter crash that killed basketball legend Kobe Bryant and eight other people, hoping to find clues to what caused the accident that stunned the world. Apu GOMES /
A note is written on the pavement as fans mourn the death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, who was killed along with his daughter and seven others in a helicopter crash on January 26, at LA Live plaza in front of Staples Center in Los Angeles on January 27, 2020. Federal investigators sifted through the wreckage of the helicopter crash that killed basketball legend Kobe Bryant and eight other people, hoping to find clues to what caused the accident that stunned the world. Robyn Beck / AFP
A basketball with the words "KB & 24 Forever" written on it and white roses are placed at a makeshift memorial as fans gather to the mourn the death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, who was killed along with his daughter and seven others in a helicopter crash on January 26, at LA Live plaza in front of Staples Center in Los Angeles on January 27, 2020. Federal investigators sifted through the wreckage of the helicopter crash that killed basketball legend Kobe Bryant and eight other people, hoping to find clues to
A person walks past a restaurant with "24" painted on the window as people mourn the death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, who was killed along with his daughter and seven others in a helicopter crash on January 26, in Los Angeles on January 27, 2020. Federal investigators sifted through the wreckage of the helicopter crash that killed basketball legend Kobe Bryant and eight other people, hoping to find clues to what caused the accident that stunned the world. Frederic J. BROWN / AFP
Children plays basket with paper balls in a trash can in front of a makeshift memorial for former NBA and Los Angeles Lakers player Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant, who were killed with seven others in a helicopter crash on January 26, at LA Live plaza in front of Staples Center in Los Angeles on January 27, 2020. Federal investigators sifted through the wreckage of the helicopter crash that killed basketball legend Kobe Bryant and eight other people, hoping to find clues to what caused the accid
The NBA has had many stars but few international icons on the scale of Kobe Bryant. Raised in Italy for seven years of his childhood, Bryant was fluent in Italian and was an ideal draw for a league that had seen basketball as a global game (Twitter)
A mural of Kobe Bryant and GiGi was painted on a basketball court in the Philippines(Twitter)
There was no player held in higher esteem by today’s NBA players than Kobe Bryant (Twitter)
DALLAS, TEXAS - JANUARY 27: The Dallas Stars honor NBA legend Kobe Bryant during a pregame moment of silence before taking on the Tampa Bay Lightning at American Airlines Center on January 27, 2020 in Dallas, Texas. Tom Pennington/Getty Images/AFP TOM PENNINGTON / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP
DALLAS, TEXAS - JANUARY 27: The Dallas Stars honor NBA legend Kobe Bryant during a pregame moment of silence before taking on the Tampa Bay Lightning at American Airlines Center on January 27, 2020 in Dallas, Texas. Tom Pennington/Getty Images/AFP TOM PENNINGTON / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP
A woman cries in front of a makeshift memorial for former NBA and Los Angeles Lakers player Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant, who were killed with seven others in a helicopter crash on January 26, at LA Live plaza in front of Staples Center in Los Angeles on January 27, 2020. Federal investigators sifted through the wreckage of the helicopter crash that killed basketball legend Kobe Bryant and eight other people, hoping to find clues to what caused the accident that stunned the world. Apu GOMES /
A woman cries in front of a makeshift memorial for former NBA and Los Angeles Lakers player Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant, who were killed with seven others in a helicopter crash on January 26, at LA Live plaza in front of Staples Center in Los Angeles on January 27, 2020. Federal investigators sifted through the wreckage of the helicopter crash that killed basketball legend Kobe Bryant and eight other people, hoping to find clues to what caused the accident that stunned the world. Apu GOMES / AFP
A note is written on the pavement as fans mourn the death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, who was killed along with his daughter and seven others in a helicopter crash on January 26, at LA Live plaza in front of Staples Center in Los Angeles on January 27, 2020. Federal investigators sifted through the wreckage of the helicopter crash that killed basketball legend Kobe Bryant and eight other people, hoping to find clues to what caused the accident that stunned the world. Robyn Beck / AFP
A note is written on the pavement as fans mourn the death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, who was killed along with his daughter and seven others in a helicopter crash on January 26, at LA Live plaza in front of Staples Center in Los Angeles on January 27, 2020. Federal investigators sifted through the wreckage of the helicopter crash that killed basketball legend Kobe Bryant and eight other people, hoping to find clues to what caused the accident that stunned the world. Robyn Beck / AFP
A basketball with the words "KB & 24 Forever" written on it and white roses are placed at a makeshift memorial as fans gather to the mourn the death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, who was killed along with his daughter and seven others in a helicopter crash on January 26, at LA Live plaza in front of Staples Center in Los Angeles on January 27, 2020. Federal investigators sifted through the wreckage of the helicopter crash that killed basketball legend Kobe Bryant and eight other people, hoping to find clues to
A basketball with the words "KB & 24 Forever" written on it and white roses are placed at a makeshift memorial as fans gather to the mourn the death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, who was killed along with his daughter and seven others in a helicopter crash on January 26, at LA Live plaza in front of Staples Center in Los Angeles on January 27, 2020. Federal investigators sifted through the wreckage of the helicopter crash that killed basketball legend Kobe Bryant and eight other people, hoping to find clues to what caused the accident that stunned the world. Frederic J. BROWN / AFP
A person walks past a restaurant with "24" painted on the window as people mourn the death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, who was killed along with his daughter and seven others in a helicopter crash on January 26, in Los Angeles on January 27, 2020. Federal investigators sifted through the wreckage of the helicopter crash that killed basketball legend Kobe Bryant and eight other people, hoping to find clues to what caused the accident that stunned the world. Frederic J. BROWN / AFP
A person walks past a restaurant with "24" painted on the window as people mourn the death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, who was killed along with his daughter and seven others in a helicopter crash on January 26, in Los Angeles on January 27, 2020. Federal investigators sifted through the wreckage of the helicopter crash that killed basketball legend Kobe Bryant and eight other people, hoping to find clues to what caused the accident that stunned the world. Frederic J. BROWN / AFP
Children plays basket with paper balls in a trash can in front of a makeshift memorial for former NBA and Los Angeles Lakers player Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant, who were killed with seven others in a helicopter crash on January 26, at LA Live plaza in front of Staples Center in Los Angeles on January 27, 2020. Federal investigators sifted through the wreckage of the helicopter crash that killed basketball legend Kobe Bryant and eight other people, hoping to find clues to what caused the accid
Children plays basket with paper balls in a trash can in front of a makeshift memorial for former NBA and Los Angeles Lakers player Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant, who were killed with seven others in a helicopter crash on January 26, at LA Live plaza in front of Staples Center in Los Angeles on January 27, 2020. Federal investigators sifted through the wreckage of the helicopter crash that killed basketball legend Kobe Bryant and eight other people, hoping to find clues to what caused the accident that stunned the world. Apu GOMES / AFP
The NBA has had many stars but few international icons on the scale of Kobe Bryant. Raised in Italy for seven years of his childhood, Bryant was fluent in Italian and was an ideal draw for a league that had seen basketball as a global game (Twitter)
The NBA has had many stars but few international icons on the scale of Kobe Bryant. Raised in Italy for seven years of his childhood, Bryant was fluent in Italian and was an ideal draw for a league that had seen basketball as a global game (Twitter)
A mural of Kobe Bryant and GiGi was painted on a basketball court in the Philippines(Twitter)
A mural of Kobe Bryant and GiGi was painted on a basketball court in the Philippines(Twitter)
There was no player held in higher esteem by today’s NBA players than Kobe Bryant (Twitter)
There was no player held in higher esteem by today’s NBA players than Kobe Bryant (Twitter)
Tags:Los Angeles LakersKobe Bryant

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