"I loved Kobe - he was like a little brother to me," Jordan said, the Associated Press reported.
LeBron James was visibly upset Sunday afternoon after learning of Bryant’s death. James passed Bryant as third on the all-time scoring list Saturday. He and other players could be seen in tearful embraces on the tarmac at Los Angeles International Airport.
The Lakers' team plane arrived back in LA hours after the death of franchise legend Kobe Bryant. Players could be seen embracing as they gathered and shared a tearful moment on the tarmac at LAX. https://t.co/Pe99QrkbmX pic.twitter.com/xP7zHN9ctW
— NBC Los Angeles (@NBCLA) January 26, 2020
"We miss you already, Kobe," New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady tweeted.
"I'm so sad and stunned right now," John Legend tweeted.
I'm so sad and stunned right now. In Staples Arena, where Kobe created so many memories for all of us, preparing to pay tribute to another brilliant man we lost too soon, Nipsey Hussle. Life can be so brutal and senseless sometimes. Hold on to your loved ones. We miss you, Kobe
— John Legend (@johnlegend) January 26, 2020
Bryant, 41, an 18-time all-star and a five-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers, died Sunday morning when the helicopter he was traveling in crashed and burst into flames in foggy conditions in the hills near Calabasas, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The San Antonio Spurs and Toronto Raptors both held the ball for 24 seconds during Sunday’s game, a nod toward Bryant’s No. 24. The Raptors took a violation after winning the tip, and the Spurs followed suit.
What a cool tribute.
— RIP Kobe Bryant (@CarmichaelDave) January 26, 2020
Both the Spurs and Raptors hold the ball for 24 seconds at the start of the game.
Crowd stand and applauds, chanting “KO-BE KO-BE”
pic.twitter.com/cJAxdIVuWa
Along with the tributes came disbelief.
"I'm stunned," former Chicago Bulls star and NBA Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen tweeted. "Words can't even come close to describing it. Just an incredibly sad and tragic day."
I’m stunned. Words can’t even come close to describing it. Just an incredibly sad and tragic day.
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) January 26, 2020
"This is not real right now," Paul Pierce tweeted.
"Somebody tell me it ain't so!" former NFL and major league baseball star Deion Sanders tweeted.
Somebody tell me it ain’t so!!!!!
— Deion Sanders (@DeionSanders) January 26, 2020
Hurting like the rest of the world right now but not as much as Kobe’s Family. Everybody keep them in your thoughts and prayers #RIPKobe
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) January 26, 2020
Shaquille O’Neal, Bryant’s teammate with the Lakers from 1996 through 2004, tweeted in capital letters, “I’m sick right now.”
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
The NBA Players Association, in a statement, called Bryant’s death “a monumental loss for the entire basketball community."
"Our hearts are quite simply broken," the organization tweeted.
NBPA Statement on the passing of Kobe Bryant pic.twitter.com/iWDBcV7c2N
— NBPA (@TheNBPA) January 26, 2020
President Donald Trump tweeted called reports of the crash was "terrible news."
Reports are that basketball great Kobe Bryant and three others have been killed in a helicopter crash in California. That is terrible news!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 26, 2020
Bryant scored 33,643 points in his 20-year NBA career. He retired from the Lakers after the 2015-16 season after spending his entire career with the franchise.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, told CNN that Bryant was “an incredible family man.”
“He was an incredible athlete and a leader,” Abdul-Jabbar said.
Pat Riley, Bryant's coach in Los Angeles, is now president on the Miami Heat. The team tweeted its condolences on Twitter.
Our hearts are heavy with extreme sadness at this time. We extend our deepest prayers, thoughts and condolences to the family of Kobe Bryant and those affected in today’s tragedy.
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) January 26, 2020
The crash comes one day after Bryant was passed by Lakers forward LeBron James for third place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.
Last night, LeBron James recalled meeting Kobe Bryant at 15 when he came to talk at a camp he attended: “I remember one thing that [Kobe] said. He said, ‘If you want to be one of the greats, you’ve got to put the work in. There is no substitute for work” 🙏🏾pic.twitter.com/hIBaM1N8wQ
— Dionne Grant (@DionneGrant) January 26, 2020
The Pro Bowl just posted this on their video board, paying tribute to Kobe Bryant. Players have been finding out on the sidelines during the game. Fans giving a standing ovation and breaking out in a “Kobe” chant. pic.twitter.com/Bc2LZ3lXBC
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) January 26, 2020
Hollywood also reacted with dismay at the news, with Octavia Spencer, Chrissy Teigen and Nick Jonas among the celebrities sharing their grief.
“RIP Kobe! My thoughts and prayers are wirh (sic) your family,” Spencer tweeted.
RIP Kobe! My thoughts and prayers are wirh your family.
— octavia spencer (@octaviaspencer) January 26, 2020
“This is heartbreaking," Jonas tweeted. "Rest in peace Kobe.”
This is heartbreaking. Rest In Peace Kobe.
— Nick Jonas (@nickjonas) January 26, 2020
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