Thursday marks the three-year anniversary of the helicopter crash that killed Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven others.
Bryant, nicknamed the «Black Mamba,» who was 41 when he died, spent his entire 20-year NBA career in Los Angeles.
An 18-time All-Star, 15-time NBA player, and 5-time champion, Bryant was posthumously inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame in 2021.
Reactions from around the sports world poured in as a tribute to the great NBA player.
Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts late in the fourth quarter while facing the Dallas Mavericks in Game One of the Western Conference Semifinals in the 2011 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on May 2, 2011, in Los Angeles California.
(Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
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With a photo of Kobe and Gianna smiling, the Lakers tweeted, «Today and forever.»
Nice Kicks noted, «Jayson Tatum is wearing his Kobe Bryant Black Mamba-inspired Air Jordan 37 Low PE tonight for the anniversary of Kobe’s passing.»
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Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant (24) victorious after winning the championship against Boston Celtics.
(John W. McDonough/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
Daily Loud wrote: «On this day 3 years ago we lost Kobe Bryant and GiGi Bryant. RIP.»
Complex Spots posted: «Long live Kobe Bryant.»
Aspen Sports & Society highlighted Kobe’s passion for women in sports: «On the third anniversary of Kobe Bryant’s death, we remember Kobe’s passion for helping kids access sports, especially girls like his daughter Gigi». as a man can do.
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Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts before facing the Utah Jazz at Staples Center on April 13, 2016 in Los Angeles, California.
(Harry How/Getty Images)
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Bryant is survived by his wife Vanessa and their three daughters.
Along with Kobe and Gianna, other victims of the fatal crash in Calabasas, California, were 13-year-old Payton Chester; Sarah Chester, 45; Alyssa Altobelli, 14; Keri Altobelli, 46; Juan Altobelli, 56; Christina Mauser, 38; and Ara Zobayan, 50.
The NBA has since named the All-Star Game MVP award after the man who first donned jersey number 8 before switching to number 24.
Andrew Mark Miller of Fox News contributed to this report.