The tragic death of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna has left many people distraught, including his former teammates and competitors. The helicopter went down on January 26, 2020 in Calabasas, California.  Lebron James, a former teammate got a tattoo in recognition of the passing of his friend. On January 31, Lebron James gave a speech, “In the words of Kobe Bryant, Mamba Out. But in the words of us, not forgotten. Live on, brother,” James said.

In addition to Bryant, age 41, and his daughter, 13, the crash claimed the lives of Payton Chester, Sarah Chester, Alyssa Altobelli, Keri Altobelli, John Altobelli, Christina Mauser and the pilot, Ara Zobayan. According to the coroner, the causes of death were blunt force trauma.

According to an article published in the New York Post, the helicopter did not have the proper technology, so it was unable to scan the dangerous terrain underneath. The plane fell out of the sky at 2,000 feet per second. 

Bryant’s skills on the court speak for themselves, but he was also very involved in his community and his daughters lives.  The Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation was one of Kobe’s largest philanthropy accomplishments.  It worked to help young children and their families acquire scholarships.

“He did mean a lot to other players because he’s considered the GOAT to some people, the greatest of all time,” Smith said. “People definitely should have had a big reaction. The tattoo that Lebron got may have been silly but it’s what it represents that matters.”

Lebron’s passing was a turning event for the start of 2020 because he was so well known and praised.

“He was a very good basketball player who really showed me how to play the sport and demonstrated basic fundamentals and even beyond that a lot of special skills that you can learn from,” Luke Smith, who is a basketball player for Lewis-Palmer, said. “He truly acted like a role model.”