On January 26, 2020, around 10 a.m, news got out that a helicopter had crashed in Calabasas, California. The helicopter was carrying basketball legend, Kobe Bryant and his 13 year old daughter, Gianna Bryant and six other people that included Gianna’s teammate, Alyssa Altobelli, her mom Keri Altobelli, the father John Altobelli, assistant coach Christina Mauser, Payton Chester, Payton’s mother Sarah, and the pilot Ara Zobayan. All nine of the people on the helicopter were killed. Kobe was only 41 years old as he leaves behind a wife and 3 daughters in this tragic news.

Kobe Bryant was born on August 23, 1978 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Kobe Bryant attended Lower Merion High School as a teenager and averaged 30.8 points per game. After he graduated, he decided to not attend college and declared for the 1996 NBA Draft. Kobe was drafted 13th overall by the Charlotte Hornets, but was immediately traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Vlade Divac. Kobe Bryant’s long and successful career was only just getting started.

Kobe Bryant played 20 seasons with 1,346 games played in his career and it was all with the Los Angeles Lakers He averaged 25 points per game throughout his whole career and in one of his seasons he scored his career high average of 35.4 points per game in 2005. Kobe was an 18 time all star, five time NBA champion, two time finals MVP, two time scoring champion, and the 2007-08 regular season MVP. Kobe would have his two numbers, 24 and 8 would be retired by the Lakers. Kobe Bryant will go down as one of the best to ever touch a basketball court and the best Lakers player ever.

When the tragic news hit of the sudden death of Kobe Bryant, many players were greatly affected. Some players heard the news when they were warming up for their upcoming game.There were many games played on the same day of the death of Kobe Bryant. Every NBA team honored Kobe with video tributes and at the start of the game both teams took 24 second violations and 8 second violations. Marc Cuban later in the day said the no Dallas Maverick player would wear the number 24 to honor Kobe. Some players also changed their number from 24 and 8 to new numbers. Kobe Bryant was an inspiration to many NBA players and was a huge icon for people around the world.

When talking to some classmates most of them said that the sudden passing of Kobe was unbelievable, sad, and didn’t seem real. For myself, I got sent the news and I wanted it to be fake because it’s like, Kobe can’t die, not Kobe. I couldn’t believe that I was even reading the words “Kobe Bryant dies.” It all seemed like one big nightmare that you just wanted to wake up from. Kobe Bryant will never be forgotten and his legacy will always live on. Rest In Peace, Kobe Bean Bryant.