Kobe Bryant dies at 41

By Fernando Alfonso III, Amir Vera and Aimee Lewis, CNN

Updated 3:22 AM ET, Tue January 28, 2020
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5:15 p.m. ET, January 26, 2020

Kobe Bryant and his daughter were expected at sports academy for a game today

CNN’s Nick Watt and Jon Passantino

Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Ethan Miller/Getty Images

NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter were expected at the Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks for a basketball game scheduled for noon today.

Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter, Gianna Maria Onore Bryant, was expected to play in the game and Kobe Bryant was expected to coach, according to Lady Mavericks team director Evelyn Morales.

The game was expected to be played against the team Lady Pride and was part of a tournament in the Mamba Cup Series.

4:55 p.m. ET, January 26, 2020

Sports columnist to CNN: Kobe Bryant "was more than sports"

From CNN’s Alaa Elassar

Sports Columnist Christine Brennan
Sports Columnist Christine Brennan Larry Busacca/Getty Images

USA Today sports columnist Christine Brennan told CNN on air today that Kobe Bryant was more than sports.

“In many ways he was the Los Angeles Lakers. When you think of Kobe Bryant, it's sports, but it's more than sports. He was part of our culture, Olympic teams, Hollywood, the father of four daughters. He has been seen at women’s sporting events supporting the US women’s soccer team, WNBA games with his girls, and all about the empowerment of young women," Brennan told CNN.
6:39 p.m. ET, January 26, 2020

Shaquille O'Neal, a longtime Lakers teammate, calls Bryant's death a "tragedy"

AFP/Getty Images
AFP/Getty Images

Shaquille O'Neal mourned the death of his former Lakers teammate today on Twitter where he said "there's no words to express the pain I'm going through."

O'Neal played on the Lakers from 1996-2004 and won three championships with the team.

O'Neal expanded on his thoughts on Bryant more in a later post on Instagram.

"Kobe was so much more than an athlete, he was a family man," O'Neal wrote. "That was what we had most in common."

4:55 p.m. ET, January 26, 2020

Fans create a makeshift memorial for Bryant at Staples Center

Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images
Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images

Dozens of fans descended on Los Angeles' Staples Center today to mourn the death of Kobe Bryant in front of a small memorial.

Bryant was a Lakers legend who played on the team for 20 years. He won five NBA championships with the team.

Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images
Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images

Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images
Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images

4:50 p.m. ET, January 26, 2020

Kobe Bryant's high school "deeply saddened" over his death

From CNN's Artemis Moshtaghian

A banner hangs in the gym at Lower Merion High School in Philadelphia honoring Kobe Bryant among the other members of the school's 1,000 Point Club.
A banner hangs in the gym at Lower Merion High School in Philadelphia honoring Kobe Bryant among the other members of the school's 1,000 Point Club. Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images

Kobe Bryant's alma mater, Lower Merion High School in Philadelphia, issued a statement Sunday about his death.

“This is a difficult day for everyone in our school community. The Lower Marion School District is deeply saddened to learn of the sudden passing of our most illustrious alumni Kobe Bryant. Mr. Bryant’s connection to Lower Merion High School where he played basketball prior to joining the NBA has raised the profile of our high school and our district throughout the world. Our school community will always be grateful for his ongoing generosity to his alma mater including his dedication of our Kobe Bryant gymnasium and his support of our girls and boys basketball teams,” said Amy Buckman, school spokeswoman.

Gregg Downer, the school's head basketball coach, coached Bryant from 1992 to 1996. Bryant led the team to the 1996 state championship, Buckman said.

"Mr. Downer said he was completely shocked and devastated today upon hearing the news, adding that Aces nation has lost its heartbeat," Buckman said.

4:44 p.m. ET, January 26, 2020

NBPA "stunned and devastated" by Kobe Bryant's death

From CNN's Sarah Moon

The National Basketball Players Association released a statement on Kobe Bryant's death today:

"We are stunned and devastated by the news of the sudden passing of Kobe Bryant. Words cannot express his impact on our Players, the NBA and the game of basketball. This is a monumental loss for the entire basketball community and our hearts are quite simply broken. We send love and prayers out to his wife Vanessa and the entire family," the league said.
4:42 p.m. ET, January 26, 2020

Kobe Bryant's daughter Gianna was in helicopter that crashed

From CNN's Artemis Moshtaghian

Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty Images
Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty Images

Kobe Bryant’s daughter 13-year-old Gianna Maria Onore Bryant was also killed on the helicopter that crashed in Calabasas, California, today, according to a source with knowledge of the situation who corresponded with CNN.

4:32 p.m. ET, January 26, 2020

California governor mourns the death of Kobe Bryant

California Gov. Gavin Newsom and his partner, Jennifer, called the death of Kobe Bryant “tragic and untimely."

 “We mourn the tragic and untimely death of a California icon and basketball legend, Kobe Bryant. In his 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, he made history with raw talent and unparalleled dedication that raised the bar and paved the way for a newer generation of players,” the couple said in a statement. “Despite winning five NBA championships and two gold Olympic medals, and achieving countless accolades in the athletics world, he also helped improve the lives of youth and families through the Kobe Bryant and Vanessa Bryant Foundation, and was an outspoken advocate for combating homelessness through partnerships with organizations such as My Friend’s Place and Step Up on Second.”

They ended the statement by saying: “Our deepest condolences go to his wife."

4:21 p.m. ET, January 26, 2020

Kobe Bryant's NBA career, by the numbers

Kobe Bryant was a NBA fixture and legend who was a member of the Los Angeles Lakers for all 20 years of his career.

Here are some other facts about Bryant:

  • He entered the NBA straight out of high school.
  • In 1996, Bryant was the youngest player in NBA history at that time, at 18 years, 2 months and 11 days.
  • Bryant has two Olympic gold medals for men's basketball.
  • He has won five NBA championships.