The world was shocked when news came out that a helicopter carrying Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gigi and seven other passengers had crashed, leaving no survivors.
Bryant’s presence was felt not only in the basketball community but throughout the world as people reacted to the news of his and his daughter’s passing.
This clip of Kobe explaining the game to his daughter went viral just last week too. https://t.co/LM73m3a9Zk
— Siraj Hashmi (@SirajAHashmi) January 26, 2020
#KobeBryant talking about his daughter Gianna’s love for the game of basketball with @jimmykimmel is the most heartbreaking thing I have seen in a long long time pic.twitter.com/NnNFG99WLs
— Nick Fineman (@The_FineMan) January 26, 2020
I’ll never forget the look on Kobe’s face when I referred to him as Gigi’s Dad during this interview. His face lit up and that trademark Kobe smile stretched across his face.
His greatest accomplishment was being a Dad. pic.twitter.com/SkkaJOh8eJ
— Kevaney Martin (@KevaneyMartin) January 26, 2020
RIP GiGi 💔 pic.twitter.com/SZA26jzp8D
— BallerTV (@BallerTV) January 26, 2020
Many in the basketball community, including Laker legends, NBA coaches and players shared their thoughts and condolences on the news.
There’s no words to express the pain Im going through with this tragedy of loosing my neice Gigi & my brother @kobebryant I love u and u will be missed. My condolences goes out to the Bryant family and the families of the other passengers on board. IM SICK RIGHT NOW pic.twitter.com/pigHywq3c1
— SHAQ (@SHAQ) January 26, 2020
Most people will remember Kobe as the magnificent athlete who inspired a whole generation of basketball players. But I will always remember him as a man who was much more than an athlete. pic.twitter.com/9EZuwk8wrV
— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (@kaj33) January 26, 2020
“He had that DNA that very few athletes can ever have.”
Doc Rivers on Kobe Bryant. pic.twitter.com/kSS7sjKaI1
— NBA TV (@NBATV) January 26, 2020
you wit me tonight my guy 🥺
24 🐍 x 12 😴 @kobebryant pic.twitter.com/LIQf827bjI— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) January 26, 2020
These are the sneakers Sabrina Ionescu of @OregonWBB is wearing to honor Kobe and his daughter. 💔 pic.twitter.com/mKEW2llPyu
— Steve Tannen (@SportsTalk953) January 26, 2020
People from other sports, countries, and, in one case, a former president shared their thoughts and prayers to the situation.
We miss you already Kobe ❤️❤️🙏🏼🙏🏼
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) January 26, 2020
Not Kobe
— Saquon Barkley (@saquon) January 26, 2020
https://twitter.com/TheNBACentral/status/1221544639309795329
Kobe was a legend on the court and just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act. To lose Gianna is even more heartbreaking to us as parents. Michelle and I send love and prayers to Vanessa and the entire Bryant family on an unthinkable day.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) January 26, 2020
The NBA world continued to play games, and the Toronto Raptors and San Antonio Spurs both took 24-second violations to open the game to honor #24.
Remarkable moment to start the Raptors-Spurs game. pic.twitter.com/thmt9ZU1Ra
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) January 26, 2020
Fans took to outside Staple Center to honor Bryant, where he made so many memorable moments for the Laker faithful and basketball lovers.
I can’t even believe this is real… right now outside Staples. 💔 pic.twitter.com/yuunIbG2Ms
— Chiney Ogwumike (@chiney) January 26, 2020
https://twitter.com/molly_knight/status/1221543659822125056