“The ultimate competitor, the ultimate worker”
Kobe Bryant was the greatest Laker of all time, CBS Sports analyst Wally Szczerbiak said on CBSN on Monday. “He was a great sportsman too … the ultimate competitor, the ultimate worker,” said Szczerbiak, who faced Bryant many times during his years in the NBA.
Szczerbiak said Bryant’s legacy will be his passion for basketball. “He was all about the game, and he relayed that on the court, and I think that’s why he had so many fans all over the place, why so many kids just looked up to him because you knew when he played the game there was no other agenda than getting the ball and winning,” Szczerbiak said.
Tiger Woods was told of Bryant’s death after finishing golf tournament
Tiger Woods was visibly surprised by the news of Kobe Bryant’s death as he walked off the golf course at Sunday’s Farmers Insurance Open, “CBS This Morning: Saturday” co-host Dana Jacobson reports. “Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash,” his caddy Joe Lacava said.
“Excuse me?” Woods said. He later told CBS Sports he didn’t understand why people on the course were saying, “Do it for Mamba.”
“He burned so competitively hot,” Woods told CBS. “He brought it each and every night on both ends of the floor.”
All 9 victims in helicopter crash identified
The retired NBA star was killed after his personal helicopter crashed into a steep hillside Sunday morning, killing everyone on board. Bryant, his daughter and seven other people were on their way to his Mamba Cup tournament, a boys and girls youth basketball league Bryant founded after he retired.
Bryant was to coach his daughter Gianna’s team. The victims were identified as Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife Keri and daughter Alyssa, Sarah Chester and her daughter Payton, who was a teammate of Gianna Bryant’s, and the pilot, Ara Zobayan, along with the girls’ assistant coach Christina Mauser.
— Jonathan Vigliotti
Michael Jordan says Bryant “was like a little brother to me”
All-time NBA great Michael Jordan says “words can’t describe the pain” he’s feeling over the death of Kobe Bryant.
Jordan issued a statement through his agent and spokesperson, Estee Portnoy:
Jordan also retweeted a tribute from Nike, a company that’s had a long association with them both:
Naomi Osaka: “Thank you for existing”
Tennis star Naomi Osaka tweeted a letter she wrote to Bryant as her way of expressing grief:
Grammy performers have Bryant jersey on stage
Lil Nas X started the performance of “Old Town Road” with a #24 Bryant jersey on stage. Nas was then joined by an all-star cast including Billy Ray Cyrus, Diplo, Mason Ramsey and BTS
Aerosmith and Run-D.M.C. performed “Walk This Way” at the Grammys, with a member of Run DMC.’s entourage holding up a #24 Lakers jersey. Run DMC. also paid tribute to their late band member, Jam Master Jay, who died in 2002, by using his logo as a backdrop.
Magic Johnson: “I thought he was going to live forever”
NBA legend Magic Johnson spoke movingly about Bryant’s legacy on and off the court in an emotional phone interview with CBS Los Angeles.
“I thought he was going to live forever. I thought he was invincible,” said Johnson. “He played like that. He walked like that. He was a confident young man.”
In the heartfelt tribute, Johnson shared moments that he had with Bryant, and reflected on their relationship, his impact on the city of Los Angeles and his role as a father.
“We will always remember what Kobe Bryant did on the court. We will remember what he did off the court and for the city. I do not think right now that we can put it into words what he meant for Los Angeles. I will miss him,” Johnson shared.
“When you put on that uniform, the Laker uniform, there was nobody who took more pride in being a Laker than Kobe. It was amazing.”
Johnson played point guard for the Lakers for 13 seasons before he retired. Bryant played all 20 seasons with the Lakers, winning three consecutive championships in 2000, 2001 and 2002.
“We need Kobe to be around. And our kids who idolized him. And the fan base who idolized him. There was more for him to do. He died way too early. And he left quite a legacy,” Johnson said.
“He was special. God created the special basketball player and the special man. We will miss him, ” he continued. “He impacted the world. And very few athletes get to impact the world like Kobe Bryant did.”
Shaquille O’Neal tweets “there’s no words”
Shaquille O’Neal, Bryant’s teammate on the Lakers, tweeted “there’s no words” and that he is “crying right now.” He also tweeted photos of the two of them together.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: “This loss is just hard to comprehend”
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the all-time NBA leading scorer, posted a video of his reaction to Bryant’s death. Abdul-Jabbar said he had known Bryant’s father and had known Bryant since he was young.
“It’s hard for me to understand how this is affecting Joe and his wife,” Abdul-Jabbar said. “So to Kobe’s family, I want to send my most sincere and heartfelt regrets and prayers and my thoughts are with you guys. Kobe was an incredible family man — he loved his wife and daughters, he was an incredible athlete and a leader in a lot of ways — he inspired a whole generation of young athletes.”
Abdul-Jabbar said he was at the 2006 game when Bryant scored 81 points. “I will always remember as one of the highlights of one of things I have learned and observed in sports,” Abdul-Jabbar said.
Dwyane Wade: “I’m going to miss our friendship”
Retired Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade posted tributes to Bryant on his Instagram Story.
“Today is one of the saddest days in my lifetime,” Wade said. “This seems like a bad dream that you just want to wake up from. It’s a nightmare. I know we are from the same way, and just a great leader, a great champion, a great person. If you got the chance to know Kobe, to really know Kobe, there ain’t nobody better, man. Emotions are all over the place — these are the moments where ask why.”
Wade then posted clips in the Story of him and Bryant together, photos of them and also photos of Bryant and Gianna.
“My heart goes out to Kobe’s family,” Wade continued. “His daughter Gigi, this is a sad day.”There’s no way around it. My family and I have been sharing Kobe stories. We have so many moments that he’s given us. I’m so thankful for those moments. I’m so thankful for those moments, man. He’s one of my favorite players. I got a chance to have a relationship, a friendship. I’m going to miss our friendship.”
Wade said he “chased” Bryant when came in the league and that he wanted to be respected by him.
“You’re our legend, you’re our icon, you’re our father, you’re our husband, our son, our brother, our friend,” Wade said. “Thank you for being my friend.”
NBA players call for the league to retire No. 24
Several NBA stars are calling for the league to retire the number 24 to honor Kobe Bryant. Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell, Miami Heat rookie Tyler Herro and Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson were among the players voicing support for the change.
Toronto Raptors player Norman Powell, who wears 24, reportedly said he would support such a decision by the league.
The late NBA legend changed his number from 8 to 24 during the 2006 season. Bryant said it was a “clean slate” after Shaquille O’Neal was traded to the Miami Heat in 2004.
