Kobe Bryant, 41, lost his life in a helicopter accident on January 26, 2020. The helicopter transporting the NBA legend and eight others crashed into a hillside near Calabasas, CA, before catching fire. There were no survivors.
Widely considered one of the best players in the history of the NBA, Bryant won five NBA titles - all with the Los Angeles Lakers, with whom he spent his entire 20-year career - as well as the 2007-08 league MVP honors. He is the fourth-leading scorer in league history, having just been surpassed by LeBron James for No. 3 on the list.
After his playing career ended in 2016, Bryant moved into business and entertainment, and even won an Academy Award in 2018 for Best Animated Short for Dear Basketball.
