NBA Legend Kobe Bryant Among Dead in Helicopter Crash

UPDATE: The Los Angles Times has released bios for the nine victims of the helicopter crash.

UPDATE: More crash victims have been identified: Orange Coast College baseball coach Jon Altobelli, his wife Keri, and daughter Alyssa have been confirmed as passengers on the helicopter as well as Christina Mauser, a basketball coach at Harbor Day School. 

UPDATE: Investigating authorities have confirmed that nine people (8 passengers plus pilot) perished in the crash.

UPDATE: Reps for Bryant have confirmed his 13-year-old daughter Gianna was among the victims of the crash.

NBA legend and retired LA Lakers basketball star Kobe Bryant was among five people who died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, CA Sunday morning.

First reported by TMZ Sports, Bryant was traveling on his private helicopter when it crashed in the hills of Calabasas, catching fire. Emergency personnel responded to the scene but there were no survivors. Authorities have confirmed five dead and have not named victims as of yet.

Earvin “Magic” Johnson tweets about Kobe following his death.

Shaquille O’Neal tweets about Kobe following his death.

One of the greatest basketball players of all time, Bryant was considered a lock for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame to be announced next month. As a hooting guard for the LA Lakers, he won 5 championships and made 18 all-star game appearances over his twenty-year career.

Kobe Bryant is survived by his wife Vanessa, and three daughters. He was 41 years old.