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NBA star Kobe Bryant and daughter, 13, die in helicopter crash

Sophie Aubrey and Matt Bungard
Updated ,first published

Summary

  • Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna, 13, among nine dead after helicopter crash
  • The helicopter crashed in the hills of Calabasas outside Los Angeles on Monday morning (AEDT)
  • NBA games will continue today with players, officials and teams paying tribute to the legend
  • An investigation into the cause of the crash is under way

Kobe Bryant talked about love of daughter at Melbourne event

By Andrew Webster

We are signing off our blog for the night. Please keep a look out for all our other coverage of this ongoing issue, including this piece from Herald Chief Sports Writer, Andrew Webster:

Fans of Kobe Bryant mourn at a memorial to him in front of Staples Center, home of the Los Angeles Lakers. Fairfax

The chant started as soon as the doors at the back of the Palladium Ballroom at Crown casino flung open and Kobe Bryant walked through the 1000-strong crowd.

Kobe! Kobe! Kobe!

As he made his way towards the stage, from the hundred-dollar seats in the back row to the $8000 VIP ones at the front, the retired NBA star pumped hands and slapped high-fives.

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Kobe Bryant mourned around the world, nowhere more so than Italy, where he spent part of his childhood

By LA Times

Tributes flowed in from around the world after Bryant's passing - but nowhere was the grief more heartfelt and personal than in the small town of Reggio Emilia in northern Italy, where Bryant spent a pivotal portion of his childhood.

“Kobe Bryant grew up here and was, for all of us, a ‘Reggiano,’” wrote the town’s mayor, Luca Vecchi, on Facebook. “Today he left us — a basketball legend that the whole town will remember forever with affection and respect.”

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“Ciao Kobe,” he added.

When Bryant was 6, his father, Joe, retired after a lengthy career in the NBA and moved his family to Italy, where he played for five seasons in the central region of Lazio, the southern region of Calabria, in Tuscany and finally for two seasons at Reggio Emilia, a small town in the northern region of Emilia-Romagna.

Legends from other sports paying tribute as well

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Former Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar tweeted his condolences, while Brazilian footballer Neymar held up the number 24 with his fingers after scoring a goal.

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'Hardest game I ever had to play'

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Kobe's former Team USA teammate Carmelo Anthony spoke with reporters after tonight game, where his Trail Blazers beat the Pacers 139-129.

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"Probably the hardest game I ever had to play," said Anthony.

"It was tough ... honestly knowing him, the way I know him, he would have wanted me to play." 

Music stars pay tribute to Kobe Bryant at Grammys award show

By AP

From the red carpet to the main stage, sadness loomed over music's biggest night Sunday at the arena in downtown Los Angeles where Kobe Bryant played for 20 years for the city's NBA team.

Bryant's death in a helicopter crash earlier in the day was acknowledged in the opening minutes of the Grammys broadcast. Before her performance, Lizzo said, "This is for Kobe." She went on to perform "Truth Hurts" and "Cuz I Love You."

Host Alicia Keys said she was feeling "crazy sad" about Bryant. She was joined on stage with Boyz II Men, who collectively sang "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday."

"The whole wide world lost a hero," the singer said in front of the audience. "We are standing her literally heartbroken in the house that Kobe Bryant built."

Some shed tears for Bryant on the red carpet. Others were almost speechless ahead of the 62nd annual awards show.

Highlights from Kobe's 20 year career

By Chee Wong
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Los Angeles Town Hall lights up in purple and gold

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LA Mayor Eric Garcetti posted on Twitter after the Town Hall was lit up in purple and gold, the colour scheme of Bryant's Lakers.

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"Lights for a legend," Mr Garcetti wrote. 

The tribute began at 8:24pm , a nod to the two numbers Bryant wore as a Laker.

Kobe chants break out at NFL Pro Bowl

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The Pro Bowl, which is the NFL's version of the All-Star Game, was held in Orlando today, with a tribute on the video screen to Bryant illiciting Kobe chants from the crowd.

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"That's a legend man," said quarterback Lamar Jackson.

"He did so much for the game of basketball, a lot of people look up to Kobe Bryant - including myself."

"God always calls his angels home for a reason." 

He went on to called Bryant, Michael Jordan and LeBron James "the three GOATs" (Greatest of All Time).

Emotional Lillard puts up 50 points in win

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Portland Trail Blazers All-Star Damien Lillard said that before his team's game tonight, their coach Terry Stotts said the best way to pay tribute to Kobe Bryant was to go out there and compete. 

"Kobe's probably the toughest competitor to ever play this game," Lillard said. 

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"I look up to him - it's just sad man, a really sad day." 

Portland defeated the Indiana Pacers 139-129. 

Lillard's teammate, Trevor Ariza, played with Bryant on the Lakers when they won a championship in 2009 - he played just his second game for Portland tonight, and wore the number 8 jersey as tribute to Bryant. 

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Ben Simmons praises Bryant's legacy

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Australian star Ben Simmons posted a string of tweets this afternoon, paying tribute to "a fierce competitor, a champion, an icon" in Kobe Bryant. 

"Your fans across the world loved you with such passion and you never let them down," he wrote. 

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