Kobe Bryant Dies At Age 41 In Helicopter Crash In California

Los Angeles Lakers all-star shooting guard Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash on Sunday at the age of 41. The terrible incident took place near Calabasas, California, which is part of Los Angeles County. It has also been reported that Kobe Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna also died in the crash according to People Magazine. 

Bryant was the 2008 NBA most valuable player and was an 18-time NBA All-Star. He had played with the Lakers from 1996 to 2016. In December, the Sporting Base had Bryant as the sixth best basketball player of all-time. 

Bryant is fourth all-time in regular-season points with 33 643. He only trails Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38 387), Karl Malone (36 928) and LeBron James (33 655).

Bryant was the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player in 2009 and 2010. He won five NBA Finals with the Lakers in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009 and 2010.

Twice in his career, Bryant led the NBA in scoring. He had 35.4 points per game in 2005-06 and then 31.6 points per game in 2006-07.

When Bryant was named the NBA’s most valuable player in 2008, it was the fourth time in his career he led the NBA in total points as he had 2323 that season. Bryant also led the NBA in total points in 2002-03 (2461 points), in 2005-06 (2832 points) and in 2006-07 (2430 points).

Four times Bryant also led the NBA in points in a single playoff season. He had a career-high 695 points in 2008-09.

A two-time Olympic gold medalist, Bryant won gold at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and the 2012 Olympic Games in London. In the gold medal game of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, Bryant had 20 points and a game-high six assists in a 118-107 United States win over Spain. In the gold medal game of the 2012 Olympic Games in London, Bryant had 17 points in a 107-100 United States win over Spain.