Bryant's death comes a day after LeBron James passed him as No. 3 on the NBA all-time scoring list when he reached 33,643 points.
"Continuing to move the game forward @KingJames. Much respect my brother," Bryant tweeted Saturday night.
Born in Philadelphia, Bryant started playing basketball when he was 3 and went on to become one of the NBA's greatest champions. He was drafted straight out of Lower Merion High School near Philadelphia in 1996. He was the youngest player in NBA history at that time, at 18 years, 2 months and 11 days.
Bryant played his entire professional career with the Los Angeles Lakers and won five NBA championships. He has two Olympic gold medals for men's basketball.
Bryant retired in April 2016 after scoring 60 points in his final game. He said his "body knew it was time to say goodbye."
"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," CNN sports analyst Christine Brennan said. Bryant was seen at women's sporting events including the US women's soccer team and WNBA games with his daughters, and he was "all about the empowerment of young women," she said.
Brennan said Bryant had "become a cultural icon and not just about sports, but about our culture and a huge piece of Americana and that's why this news is absolutely tragic."
Sportscaster Bob Costas told CNN Bryant was "always a legendarily hard worker."
"Even at the peak of his career before age and injuries may have slowed him a little bit, he always came back after each off season having added something to his game -- a new move, a new dimension," Costas told CNN.
Mourning Kobe
Everyone from current and former NBA players to former President Barack Obama mourned Bryant's death.
NBA clippers coach Doc Rivers, who has known Bryant for many years, was emotional when discussing his death. "He means a lot to me, obviously. He was such a great opponent. ... It's what you want in sports," Rivers said.
Rivers said Bryant "had that DNA that very few athletes can ever have. The Tiger Woods and Michael Jordans."
Former Los Angeles Laker great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who has known Bryant since he was a boy, said Bryant was an athlete and leader who inspired generations of young athletes.
"He was one of the first ones to leave high school and come to the NBA and do so well, dominating the game and becoming one of the best scorers that the Los Angeles Lakers has ever seen," Abdul-Jabbar said in a video posted online.
"Rest in peace, young man, Abdul-Jabbar said. "This loss, it's just hard to comprehend."
On the court Sunday, the Atlanta Hawks held a moment of silence as a tribute to Bryant before their game against the Washington Wizards. Following the moment of silence, Hawks guard Trae Young started the game wearing a No. 8 jersey to honor Bryant, then switched back to his No. 11.
On the opening possession, the Hawks took an 8-second backcourt violation and the Wizards followed by taking a 24-second shot clock violation.
Bryant wore both No. 8 and No. 24 in his NBA career.
When he learned of Bryant's death, retired NBA player Dwyane Wade tweeted: "Nooooooooooo God please No!"
Former NBA player Scottie Pippen tweeted: "I'm stunned. Words can't even come close to describing it. Just an incredibly sad and tragic day."
NBA icon Shaquille O'Neal tweeted: "There's no words to express the pain Im going through with this tragedy of loosing my neice Gigi & my brother..."
"Kobe was a legend on the court and just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act. To lose Gianna is even more heartbreaking to us as parents," Obama tweeted.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti called Bryant a "giant who inspired, amazed, and thrilled people everywhere with his incomparable skill on the court -- and awed us with his intellect and humility as a father, husband, creative genius, and ambassador for the game he loved.
"He will live forever in the heart of Los Angeles, and will be remembered through the ages as one of our greatest heroes."
President Donald Trump tweeted about Bryant's death, saying, "He loved his family so much, and had such strong passion for the future. The loss of his beautiful daughter, Gianna, makes this moment even more devastating...."
Across from the Staples Center in Los Angeles -- where the Grammy Awards were being held -- hundreds of fans stood around a memorial of Bryant's jerseys, photos and candles. Many wore Bryant's jerseys. Pumping their fists, some yelled, "MVP." They chanted "Kobe," and "GiGi," for his daughter.
A love of helicopters
Ten years ago, GQ Magazine wrote about how Bryant regularly took his own helicopter to work:
"He takes a private helicopter from Orange County, where he lives with his wife and two children, to every home game. It's a nice dash of glitz, a touch of showbiz (but) Bryant says the helicopter is just another tool for maintaining his body. It's no different than his weights or his whirlpool tubs or his custom-made Nikes.
"Given his broken finger, his fragile knees, his sore back and achy feet, not to mention his chronic agita, Bryant can't sit in a car for two hours. The helicopter, therefore, ensures that he gets to Staples Center feeling fresh, that his body is warm and loose and fluid as mercury when he steps onto the court."
The chopper was adorned with his logo.
Source:CNN
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