The NBA world was shocked by the death of Kobe Bryant, who passed away in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna.

Tributes and words of praise came in from figures across the sporting world, as fellow NBA players, former teammates, and other superstar athletes learned of the tragic news.
In a statement, Michael Jordan paid tribute to Bryant, one of the few players to ever earn the honor of being compared to him as the potential greatest of all time.
“I am in shock over the tragic news of Kobe’s and Gianna’s passing. Words cannot describe the pain I"m feeling. I loved Kobe - he was like a little brother to me. We used to talk often, and I will miss those conversations very much. He was a fierce competitor, one of the greats of the game and a creative force. Kobe was also an amazing dad who loved his family deeply - and took great pride in his daughter’s love for the game of basketball. Yvette joins me in sending my deepest condolences to Vanessa, the Lakers organization and basketball fans around the world”, - wrote Michael Jordan.