American basketball player Kobe Bryant killed in helicopter crash

NBA superstar Kobe Bryant killed in helicopter crash [photo courtesy]

Retired basketball star Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California on Sunday morning, TMZ reported.

TMZ said Bryant was traveling with at least four other people in his private helicopter when it went down in Calabasas, about 40 miles (65 km) northwest of Los Angeles.

TMZ has also confirmed that Kobe Bryant's eldest daughter Gianna Maria Onore -- aka GiGi -- was among the victims in the accident

Kobe Bryant’s daughter Gianna Maria Onore -- aka GiGi -- also Killed in the Helicopter Crash. [Photo: Courtesy]

Kobe and Gianna were on their way to his Mamba Academy for a basketball practice when their helicopter crashed according to reports.

 

It is with great sadness that we learn of the death of Kobe Bryant and four others in a helicopter crash in Calabasas. The aircraft went down in a remote field off Las Virgenes around 10:00 this morning. Nobody on the ground was hurt. The FAA and NTSB are investigating. — City of Calabasas (@CityofCalabasas) January 26, 2020

Los Angeles county sheriff said five people have been confirmed dead as a result of the crash, which is now under investigation.

FILE PHOTO: Kobe Bryant’s wife, Vanessa Bryant, had four children with the late NBA star. [photo courtesy]

Bryant’s wife, Vanessa, was not among those aboard the chopper, according to reports.

The couple share four daughters, Gianna, Natalia and Bianca and their newborn Capri.

The scene of the helicopter crash [LA County Sheriff's Department]

 

About Kobe Bryant

After high school, Bryant was the 13th overall pick of the 1996 draft, selected by Charlotte, which traded his rights to the Lakers in exchange for center Vlade Divac.

Bryant also starred for two decades with the Los Angeles Lakers, winning five championships and making 18 All-Star Games before hanging up his basketball shoes following the 2016 season.

The late basketballer's family in a file photo

Bryant won five NBA championships for the Lakers and amassed a number of accolades. He was the NBA's Most Valuable Player in 2007-08, a 15-time All-NBA selection, 18-time All-Star and 12-time All-Defensive team member. He twice was named the MVP of the NBA Finals and was the All-Star Game MVP four times.

Bryant, 41, had four children [photo courtesy]

Bryant played in 1,346 career games and retired as the third-leading scorer in NBA history with 33,643 points. On Saturday night, Lakers star LeBron James passed him on the all-time list when he scored 29 points against the Philadelphia 76ers. Bryant stands behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone and James on the all-time list.

LA county firefighters on the scene of a helicopter crash that reportedly killed Kobe Bryant in Calabasas, California, U.S., January 26, 2020. Gene Blevins | Reuters

The 41 year-old was a two-time Olympic gold medalist in basketball, having won the tournament with United States at the Beijing games in 2008, and again at London in 2012.