Former basketball star Kobe Bryant is dead.
Reports say Bryant was among 9 passengers on board a helicopter that crashed in the Los Angeles County suburb of Calabasas. TMZ first reported the news. No one survived the crash.
The Los Angeles Lakers superstar popularly referred to as Black Mamba, won five championships with the team and was often compared to Michael Jordan. He retired in 2016.
An 18-time NBA All-Star, Bryant was considered to be one of the greatest basketball players of all-time.
His last tweet less than 24 hours ago, congratulated Lakers basketballer LeBron James aka King James on making history and surpassing him as the number 3 on the NBA all time scoring list.
Social media is awash with condolence messages from shocked fans and fellow celebrities.
Long live Black Mamba.
UPDATE: Kobe’s 13 year old daughter Gianna Maria Onore aka GiGi was also on board the helicopter and died in the crash.
They were reportedly on their way to the Mamba Academy for a basketball practice when the crash occurred.
The two are survived by wife/mother , Vanessa, and three daughters/sisters, Natalia and Bianca and months old Capri.
