The Lakers were flying home from Philadelphia, somewhere over the Southwest, when the news began trickling throughout their plane. Dwight Howard woke up several of his teammates to share with them what he learned. The coaches heard the news from Kurt Rambis and director of media relations Alison Bogli. Then coach Frank Vogel went to the front of the plane to address the players.

Kobe Bryant had died in a helicopter crash.

They were shocked. Devastated. Speechless.

LeBron James, who had just passed Bryant on the league’s all-time scoring list the night before, appeared broken up. He’d idolized Bryant as a teenager and looked to follow his lead into the NBA. When he departed the plane he was met with other members of the organization. They embraced him tightly and lingered.


The reaction inside the Lakers plane wasn’t far from what millions of fans of the Lakers and the NBA felt. But these were people who knew him, some for decades. They struggled to control their emotions. Some didn’t.

“Damn, I’ve been messed up all day….” Kyle Kuzma wrote on Instagram on Sunday evening. “I grew up trying to be like you. I would watch YouTube highlights as a kid trying to mimic you (and I still do). I would go to the gym as a kid and shoot fade-aways for hours acting as if every shot I took was at the buzzer just like you. Then 3 years ago I became a Laker. You became family & a mentor to me.”

Kuzma went on to describe what it meant to him to have dinner with Bryant during his rookie year.


“I’m teared up just trying to write this but Kobe thank you for being a brother to me,” Kuzma said.

Lakers executives, including Jeanie Buss and Linda Rambis, gathered at the team facility, devastated. General manager Rob Pelinka, Bryant’s agent and a close friend of the family, spent time with Bryant’s widow, Vanessa. Out of respect for Bryant’s family, the team declined to release a statement on Sunday. But reactions poured in from those who knew him best.

“The crash was a tragedy for multiple families,” former Lakers coach Phil Jackson said in a statement. “My heart goes out to Vanessa and the families that lost loved ones. Kobe was a chosen one-special in many ways to many people. Our relationship as coach/player transcended the norm. He went beyond the veil.”

Arn Tellem, the Pistons’ vice chairman, was Bryant’s agent when he entered the league. He said Bryant was the greatest athlete he ever represented.

Speechless on this plane ride home! A sad day bruh! RIP Kobe Bean Bryant! Prayers go to his family and loved ones 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 This doesn’t even feel real man.. — Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) January 26, 2020

“He had a fearsome intellectual curiosity and his enthusiasm was contagious,” Tellem said. “The glint in his eyes wasn’t just joy: It was sparks from a fire that couldn’t be tamped down. To him, anything less than the best was failure.


“He deeply loved his wife Vanessa and the family they created, Natalia, Gianna, Bianka and Capri,” Tellem said. “He cherished his daughters and they were always his top priority. Losing Gianna makes this even more tragic. Kobe’s death is especially wrenching knowing what he was capable of, and what he might have accomplished in his post-NBA life.”

Bryant spent his entire 20-year playing career with the Lakers, arriving in the city as a 17-year-old draft pick who went on to win five championships – numbers 12 through 16 for the organization. Jerry West, who made a trade to acquire the draft rights of Bryant, remembered a 17-year-old Bryant having to be driven around by West’s son Ryan because Bryant couldn’t drive yet.

He called Sunday one of the most tragic days of his life.

“When I first heard it, I said, ‘Oh, I don’t believe this. There’s no way,’ ” West said. “My God! The legacy. The memories. The joy he brought to so many people. I can’t even come to grips with it. It’s a very sad day in the West household. Very sad.”


West wasn’t the only person who couldn’t believe Bryant had died. When Metta World Peace, a former teammate of Bryant’s, heard the news, he called everyone he knew who was close to Bryant in the hope that someone would tell him it wasn’t true.

Bryant played through countless injuries, but one finally spelled the end. In 2013, he suffered a torn Achilles tendon, shot a pair of free throws and then his season ended. Bryant was never the same again. On the day he retired Magic Johnson called him the greatest Laker ever.

“There will never be another Kobe, man. He had the confidence and the swagger even at 17 and 18,” Johnson said on Sunday. “When he missed that shot that was a airball in Utah and he knew he was coming back. That says a lot about that dude. He was like, ‘OK, I’ll be back. Don’t worry about me. I’ll take it again’ This dude here is a different cat. But he loved being a Laker, that’s one thing he always loved. He and I shared that.”


Johnson also said the Grammy Awards, scheduled for Sunday evening at Staples Center, asked him to do a prayer.

“I said, ‘I just can’t. I’m too emotional. It’s too close,’ ” Johnson said.

It hadn’t even been 24 hours since the Lakers and the league were celebrating James’ accomplishment, and Bryant was graciously congratulating him. Since James shared stories about how much he loved Bryant and what it meant to him to be mentioned in the same breath as the Lakers great. James said Saturday night that sometimes the universe doesn’t make any sense. Howard honored the night with some introspection.

“We don’t appreciate each other as much as we should as a humanity,” Howard said Saturday night. “And I think something like that should be appreciated. You should appreciate people while they’re alive.”


At arenas around the NBA on Sunday, moments of silence were held. Fans from Madison Square Garden to the Amway Center in Orlando chanted Bryant’s name. The San Antonio Spurs and Toronto Raptors opened their game with back-to-back 24-second violations in honor of the number 24, which Bryant wore in the latter part of his career.

In Atlanta, the Hawks took an eight-second backcourt violation in honor of the number Bryant wore when his NBA career started. Hawks guard Trae Young, who typically wears No.11, wore No.8.

1 / 43 Martin Yan, 35, of Diamond Bar stands beside of a mural depicting Kobe Bryant on Lebanon Street northeast of Staples Center. Fans are flocking to the area and having photos taken with the mural. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 43 The investigation continues Tuesday at the crash site in Calabasas where a helicopter carrying Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven others crashed, killing all aboard. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 43 The pilot was identified by colleagues as Ara Zobayan, 50, of Huntington Beach. (Bernadette McKeever) 4 / 43 The Sikorsky S-76B helicopter (N72EX) that crashed in Calabasas. (Geraldine Petrovic / Polaris) 5 / 43 A tribute to Kobe Bryant is projected on the Los Angeles Times building. (Los Angeles Times) 6 / 43 A couple pay their respects at a memorial at home plate in honor of Orange Coast College head baseball coach John Altobelli, who perished with wife Keri, and daughter, Alyssa, in Sunday’s helicopter crash with Kobe Bryant. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot) 7 / 43 Uziel Colon takes a photo of his wife, Maria Home, and daughter Lena with a mural created to honor Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna. The mural is by Art Gozukuchikyan on the side of VEM Exotic Rentals on Ventura Boulevard in Studio City. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 8 / 43 People pay tribute to Kobe Bryant outside the gated community in Newport Coast where his family lives. (Don Leach / Los Angeles Times) 9 / 43 Kinzo Beachem writes on the cement next to a makeshift memorial for former Lakers player Kobe Bryant at L.A. Live plaza in front of Staples Center. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) 10 / 43 Fans gather outside Staples Center in Los Angeles to mourn the death of Kobe Bryant after news spread that Bryant and his daughter Gianna were among the nine killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 11 / 43 A Lakers fan sobs at a memorial for Kobe Bryant outside the Lakers’ practice facility in El Segundo on Sunday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 12 / 43 Emergency responders cover remains at the site of the helicopter crash that killed nine people including Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna on Sunday in Calabasas. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) 13 / 43 From left, Christopher Pena, 33, and his wife Lizbeth, 30, of Pacoima, mourn with Jose Gutierrez, 33, of La Puente, near the site of the Calabasas helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant and eight others. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) 14 / 43 Nancy Fernandez of Van Nuys lights a candle at a memorial for Kobe Bryant at De Anza Park in Calabasas on Sunday. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) 15 / 43 Fans mourn near Staples Center after learning that Lakers great Kobe Bryant had died. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 16 / 43 Mourners huddle at L.A. Live, across from Staples Center, site of the home court of Kobe Bryant and the Lakers. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 17 / 43 A woman kneels at the makeshift memorial to Kobe Bryant outside Staples Center in Los Angeles. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 18 / 43 A man kisses the ground as Lakers fans gather at a memorial to Kobe Bryant outside Staples Center. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 19 / 43 Fans (from left) Alex Fultz, Eddy Rivas and Rene Alfaro gather with others near a makeshift memorial for Kobe Bryant outside Staples Center on Sunday after learning of his death. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times) 20 / 43 Fans gather around a makeshift memorial to Kobe Bryant at L.A. Live on Sunday evening. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 21 / 43 Naima Smith, 37, and Swania Hogue, 48, both of Los Angeles, mourn the loss of Kobe Bryant at a vigil in Leimert Park on Sunday. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times) 22 / 43 Fans gather near a makeshift memorial for Kobe Bryant outside Staples Center after learning of the Lakers legend’s death Sunday. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times) 23 / 43 A Lakers fan touches a memorial for Kobe Bryant outside the Lakers practice facility in El Segundo on Sunday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 24 / 43 Mourners gather at the corner of Las Virgenes Road and Willow Glen Street in Calabasas near the site of the helicopter crash. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) 25 / 43 Naima Smith, 37, lays flowers at a makeshift memorial during a vigil for Kobe Bryant in Leimert Park on Sunday. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times) 26 / 43 Fans stand near a memorial for Kobe Bryant outside Staples Center on Sunday after learning of his death in a helicopter crash in Calabasas. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times) 27 / 43 Naima Smith, 37, center, and other fans mourn the death of Kobe Bryant at a vigil in Leimert Park on Sunday. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times) 28 / 43 Fans stand near a makeshift memorial for Kobe Bryant outside Staples Center on Sunday after learning of his death in a helicopter crash in Calabasas. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times) 29 / 43 A screen at L.A. Live on Sunday displays an image of Lakers legend Kobe Bryant following his death in a helicopter crash in Calabasas. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times) 30 / 43 Fans gather near a makeshift memorial for Kobe Bryant outside Staples Center after learning of the Lakers legend’s death Sunday. (Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times) 31 / 43 Fans gather near a makeshift memorial for Kobe Bryant outside Staples Center after learning of the Lakers legend’s death Sunday. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times) 32 / 43 Fans gather near a makeshift memorial for Kobe Bryant outside Staples Center after learning of the Lakers legend’s death Sunday. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times) 33 / 43 Fans gather near a makeshift memorial for Kobe Bryant outside Staples Center after learning of the Lakers legend’s death Sunday. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times) 34 / 43 Bryant Hirshman is hugged by his father, Craig, and mother, Elena, near the helicopter crash site in Calabasas that claimed the lives of Kobe Bryant, his daughter, Gianna, and seven others Sunday. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) 35 / 43 People gather on Las Virgenes Road in Calabasas near the site of a helicopter crash that claimed the lives of Kobe Bryant, his daughter, Gianna, and seven others Sunday. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) 36 / 43 Amanda Gordon and her husband, Philip, mourn the death of Lakers legend Kobe Bryant near the site of a helicopter crash Calabasas that claimed the lives of the Lakers legend, his daughter, Gianna, and seven others Sunday. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) 37 / 43 Jianing Zhang, right, and his girlfriend Cathy Xiao gather with others near the helicopter crash site in Calabasas that claimed the lives of Kobe Bryant, his daughter, Gianna, and seven others Sunday. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) 38 / 43 Large Kobe Bryant memorial signs are illuminated at L.A. Live as fans Aldo Luna and his son Ethan of Pomona gather with others paying their respects outside Staples Center. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 39 / 43 Lakers fans mourn the death of Kobe Bryant at a makeshift memorial. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 40 / 43 Fans post sticky notes paying tribute to Kobe Bryant on a mural of the former NBA superstar outside Shoe Palace on Melrose Avenue in L.A. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times) 41 / 43 Fans gather at a makeshift memorial outside Staples Center to mourn Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times) 42 / 43 Fans gather outside Staples Center at a makeshift memorial to Kobe Bryant. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times) 43 / 43 Kobe Bryant’s No. 8 and No. 24 Lakers jerseys hang in the rafters at Staples Center during preparations for the Grammy Awards on Sunday night. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

This season Bryant attended two Lakers games with his daughter Gianna and one of them featured Young. He sat courtside with her, and helped her meet celebrities and athletes she admired. On Sunday afternoon, Young posted a photo of himself with Bryant and his daughter at Staples Center.


“This the first moment I was able to meet Gianna Maria, she’s been to only 3 games this year... 2 of them were mine...,” Young wrote. “She told me I was her favorite player to watch🙏🏽 I can’t believe this😢😭”

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban announced no player would ever wear 24 again for the Mavericks.

Now the NBA and the Lakers will grapple with determining how to proceed with their regular business. The Lakers won’t practice on Monday, and it’s unclear if they’ll even play Tuesday’s home game against the Clippers.

The NBA doesn’t have much precedent for canceling the game. The last time it canceled games due to tragedy was in 1963 when President Kennedy was killed. Games went on as scheduled Sunday, despite emotional outpouring from players around the league.


In El Segundo, the Lakers offered a chance for fans to grieve together. They opened the gates to the parking lot at their practice facility. A large white canvas with a watermarked image of Bryant smiling leaned against a wall. Lisa Estrada, the team’s vice president of facilities and building operations, distributed black Sharpies out of a basket to fans wishing to write a message on the canvas.

Next to it a vigil formed, complete with lit candles, stuffed animals, a basketball and dozens of flowers, many purple and yellow. Photos of Bryant throughout the years flanked the tributes.

A woman in a yellow sweater approached Estrada to return a Sharpie. Then she put her arms around her and asked if they could pray together.