"The Man Who Changed the Game": Five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash

The authorities of the American city of Calabasas confirmed the death of the legendary basketball player Kobe Bryant.

“With great sadness, we report the death of Kobe Bryant and four other passengers as a result of the crash of a helicopter in Calabasas. The helicopter crashed near Las Virginia at about 10 in the morning, ”the social media account says in the Calabasas authorities.

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.

It is reported that Bryant traveled by helicopter Sikorsky S-76. The photographs show smoke from a fallen helicopter.

In total, there were four people in the helicopter, all of them also died. According to media reports, among them was Kobe's 13-year-old daughter.

Kobe has defended the colors of the Los Angeles Lakers throughout his career and is a true legend for fans of this team. Upon learning of his death, in the morning they carried flowers to the club’s arena.

US President Donald Trump responded to Bryant’s death.

“The great basketball player Kobe Bryant, as well as three other people, reportedly died in a helicopter crash in California. This is terrible news! ”Trump wrote on Twitter.

Reports are that basketball great Kobe Bryant and three others have been killed in a helicopter crash in California. That is terrible news!

The head of the Russian Basketball Federation Andrei Kirilenko commented on the death of a basketball player.

“This is terrible news. We talked not so long ago, he had so many plans. Kobe is one of my generation of players, the best basketball player when I played prime. After his career, he remained friends with him, and here it is, in the prime of life, ”the TASS functionary quotes.

In turn, VTB United League president Sergei Kushchenko called Bryant a player who changed basketball.

“News that cannot be believed. Until the last I could not do it. To say about Kobe, the language does not turn. We saw him not so long ago, he was at the Brooklyn match, and at the Match of the Stars. He is an incredible basketball player, a man who changed the game and continued to do so, even ending his career. He is one of the great ones, it just doesn’t fit in his head that he is no more, ”Kushchenko said.

And the bronze medalist of the Olympic Games and Lokomotiv-Kuban basketball player Vitaly Fridzon admitted that he did not believe in what had happened.

“This era is gone, Bryant was one of the greatest players of all time. It was a pleasure to speak with him at the Olympics, to see him. This is a tragedy for all of world basketball. I think we should make a moment of silence on such an occasion at the matches, to give credit. It is unpleasant to read this, a person has finished his career, his whole life is still ahead. It’s very disappointing, ”the Championship quotes the player.

They expressed condolences in the Russian national football team.

We grieve with all world. Rest in peace, Kobe Bryant ...

We grieve with the whole world. Rest in Peace, Kobe pic.twitter.com/C5o1g1iGSc

The International Olympic Committee expressed its condolences.

“Two-time Olympic champion Kobe Bryant died in a plane crash. Rest in peace, Kobe Bryant, you will always be in our hearts, ”the message said.

The striker of the Paris Saint-Germain football club dedicated a goal to Bryant, scored in the match of the 21st round of the French championship against Lille. After a goal, he showed on his fingers the numbers 2 and 4, indicating the number 24, under which the basketball player played.

In turn, the NBA teams paid tribute to Kobe Bryant with a moment of silence.

Two Gold Games and five NBA titles

Bryant made his debut in the Lakers back in 1996. And four years later, he became the first NBA champion. In 2001 and 2002, Kobe took two more championship rings. Later, his Lakers won in 2009 and 2010. Bryant also twice became the Olympic champion.

In the history of the NBA, his name is forever inscribed in gold letters. For example, he is the fifth player in the history of the League to overcome the milestone of 30,000 points. As a result, Kobe ended his career with an indicator of 33,643 points. In this indicator, he beat the legendary Michael Jordan and is now in fourth place on the list of the most successful NBA players.

Literally on the eve of his death, the current Lakers player LeBron James went around on this list. Before his death, Bryant managed to congratulate him on this achievement.

“LeBron: continue to promote the game and pave the way for the future,” Bryant wrote on Instagram.

View this Instagram post

On to # 2 @kingjames! Keep growing the game and charting the path for the next. 💪🏾

Posted by Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) Jan 25, 2020 at 8:18 PST

After his career, Bryant devoted himself to the family. He was engaged in raising four daughters, the youngest of whom was born in June last year.