NBA Legend Kobe Bryant Killed in Helicopter Crash

UPDATE: New details from the scene of the crash are beginning to file in from LA County’s Fire Chief, Daryl Osby. He reports — via Sports Illustrated writer, Rohan Nadkarni — 9 people were aboard the helicopter, including the one pilot, and all were “determined to be perished” by paramedics who were airdropped to the remote crash site. (6:27PM EST)

UPDATE: Sources confirm Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, was one of the passengers in the fatal helicopter crash. (2:51PM EST)

Los Angeles Lakers legend and NBA all-timer, Kobe Bryant, was killed this morning (Sunday) in a helicopter crash outside of Calabasas, CA. He was 41-years-old.

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The story broke just minutes ago per a TMZ report and has now been been confirmed by ABC7 and Variety, respectively. The story is still developing, but according to the original report, Bryant was one of five people killed in the fatal crash, the cause of which is currently under investigation.

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The son of former NBA forward, Joe Bryant, Kobe entered the league in 1996 at 17-years-old as the top-ranking high school prospect in the country. He spent the entirety of his 20-year career as a Los Angeles Laker, retiring at the end of the 2016-2017 season. During his tenure, Bryant was an 18-time all-star, winning five NBA championships and earning finals MVP in both 2009 and 2010. He also holds the title for the second-highest point total by a player in a single game, scoring 81 against the Toronto Raptors in 2006.