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Former Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, were among nine people killed Sunday morning in a helicopter crash in the foggy hills of Calabasas.
The identities of all victims will not be announced until families are notified, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva. The helicopter, a Sikorsky S-76B, took off from John Wayne Airport in Orange County at 9:06 a.m. Bryant and the others were en route to the Mamba Academy in Thousand Oaks for a basketball tournament. Gianna, nicknamed GiGi, had games scheduled for Sunday afternoon at the academy, and Bryant was expected to coach.
Bryant was born Aug. 23, 1978, in Philadelphia. He was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets and became the youngest player in NBA history at 18 years, 2 months and 11 days old. The five-time NBA champion and 17-time NBA All Star was remembered as not only a giant among professional athletes, but for many an inspiration. He is survived by his wife, Vanessa Laine Bryant, and their three daughters, as well as his parents, Joe and Pamela Bryant.
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