BREAKING NEWS: #MambaMentality: Kobe Bryant Dead at 41

Nicole Markus, Print Editor-in-Chief

41-year-old basketball star Kobe Bryant passed away in a helicopter crash today, according to TMZ. His daughter, Gianna, was also on board, along with three others. There were no survivors in the crash.

Bryant’s death comes a day after Lebron James passed him in all-time scoring, according to ESPN, making the death all the more shocking for the National Basketball Association community. 

Social media immediately erupted with tributes to Bryant and his daughter. On Twitter, the trending page consisted of “Kobe,” “Vanessa” (his wife), “Please God,” and “RIP Legend.” Many were shocked by the loss of Bryant, considered one of the best NBA players of all time. 

Bryant was still incredibly active in his community and known as a philanthropist. He invested in multiple companies such as Granity Studios, BODYARMOR and Mamba Sports Academy. 

His three other children, Natalie, Bianka and Capri, were reportedly not on the helicopter at the time of its crash. Capri, Bryant’s youngest, is only seven months old.

While the full details of the crash have yet to be released, some sources have said that Bryant and the other passengers were on the way to Gianna’s basketball game when the helicopter crashed in Calabasas, California.

Bryant influenced many people during his career and left a major legacy. The news of his passing has already rocked the sports community, and will continue to long into the future.