– Barack Obama Pays Tribute To Kobe Bryant
Former US president and avid basketball fan Barack Obama has paid his condolences to the Bryant family following the tragic death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant.
The five-time NBA champion died in a helicopter crash alongside eight others in Calabasas, California, on Sunday, the city said. The NBA confirmed that Bryant’s 13-year old daughter, Gianna, also died in the crash.
“Kobe was a legend on the court and just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act,” Mr. Obama tweeted. “To lose Gianna is even more heartbreaking to us as parents. Michelle and I send love and prayers to Vanessa and the entire Bryant family on an unthinkable day.”
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. Michelle and I send love and prayers to Vanessa and the entire Bryant family on an unthinkable day.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) January 26, 2020
Bryant was discussed at length by LeBron James on Saturday night after James passed the former Lakers legend for third on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. Bryant, 41, retired from basketball after the 2016 season, his 20th years in the NBA — all spent with the Lakers. The organization retired both of the jersey numbers he wore (No. 8 and No. 24) in a ceremony back in 2017.
After the news broke on Sunday, countless figures around basketball and the rest of the sports world took to social media to process and react to Bryant’s death. Most expressed a sense of complete shock. Others sent prayers to Bryant’s family.
