Basketball legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, were among the nine people who died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, Calif., Jan. 26. Bryant and Gianna were on their way to a travel basketball game, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Bryant was 41. Gianna was 13.
Bryant played for the Los Angeles Lakers from 1996-2016. He helped lead the Lakers to five championships, earning Finals MVP honors twice. Bryant, an 18-time All-Star and the league MVP in 2007-08, is the fourth-leading scorer in NBA history (33,643 points).
Bryant also won two gold medals during the Summer Olympics in 2008 (Beijing) and 2012 (London). Bryant was a leading member of the “Redeem Team,” which stormed to a first-place finish in 2008 after Team USA won the bronze medal in 2004.
After the news of Bryant’s death broke, athletes reacted on social media and shared what Bryant meant to them. Bryant’s work ethic, drive and commitment to basketball was well-known. Here’s a sampling of what athletes with Baltimore ties shared:
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson:
Ravens quarterback Robert Griffin III:
Ravens defensive tackle Michael Pierce:
Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley:
Ravens cornerback Tavon Young:
Ravens cornerback Iman Marshall:
Former Ravens and Maryland wide receiver Torrey Smith:
Orioles pitcher John Means:
Orioles pitcher David Hess:
Orioles pitching prospect D.L. Hall:
Hall of Fame pitcher and current MASN analyst Jim Palmer:
Former Orioles center fielder Adam Jones:
Atlanta Dream forward and Baltimore native Angel McCoughtry:
Maryland men’s basketball center and Mount Saint Joseph graduate Jalen Smith:
Maryland men’s basketball guard Anthony Cowan:
Maryland women’s basketball forward Kaila Charles:
Former Maryland center Bruno Fernando:
Former Maryland guard Kevin Huerter:
Former Maryland guard Greivis Vasquez:
Former Maryland forward Jake Layman:
Baltimore native, Dunbar graduate and former NBA star Muggsy Bogues:
Former Maryland wide receiver Stefon Diggs:
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