NBA legend and chairman of the Charlotte Hornets, Michael Jordan, released a statement Sunday following the death of Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven other people in a helicopter crash:
Los Angeles officials held a news conference offering further details on the crash, though they didn’t confirm the identities of any of the victims:
UPDATE: L.A. officials held a news conference on the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant and eight others this morning. An investigation is still underway to determine the remaining victims and the circumstances surrounding the crash. https://t.co/R0RP9iwDbl pic.twitter.com/lAB6WK6AJ2
— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 26, 2020
NBA and Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson also shared his thoughts on Bryant’s death and the life that he lived
As I try to write this post, my mind is racing. I’m in disbelief and have been crying all morning over this devastating news that Kobe and his young daughter, Gigi have passed away in a helicopter crash. Cookie and I are heartbroken. pic.twitter.com/X2vF0M0a1u
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) January 26, 2020
A number of former and current NBA players, including several of Bryant’s teammates, also expressed their grief and disbelief regarding his death
There’s no words to express the pain Im going through with this tragedy of loosing my neice Gigi & my brother @kobebryant I love u and u will be missed. My condolences goes out to the Bryant family and the families of the other passengers on board. IM SICK RIGHT NOW pic.twitter.com/pigHywq3c1
— SHAQ (@SHAQ) January 26, 2020
Jordan and Bryant will always be linked in basketball history. When Bryant entered the league in 1996, he was seen as the heir apparent to Jordan, and much of his game and style mirrored that of the Chicago Bulls legend. Like Jordan, Bryant became a legend himself, with a resume that speaks for itself:
18-time All-Star Five-time champion 2007-08 NBA MVP Two-time Finals MVP 11-time All-NBA First Team selection Two-time scoring champ
That resume put Bryant in the conversation for best player ever, along with the likes of Jordan, LeBron James and others. It’s been a fun debate for NBA fans, but on Saturday, Allen Iverson offered the best-possible perspective on that conversation.
“It’s hard when you try to compare [LeBron] and Mike and Kobe together,” Iverson said after James passed Bryant for third all-time in scoring, per Michael Lee of The Athletic. “All of them are just great. All of them had different talents. That’s why it’s always a coin flip for me, when it comes to those guys. I’ll take any of them, if I had a chance to.”