As news of Kobe Bryant’s death disseminated on this day five years ago, the sports world went from denial, to disbelief, to shock, and eventually acceptance. One of the greatest hoopers of all time was gone in a flash.

Bryant received his flowers for his on-court accomplishments and influence before his death, as recently as his final night on this planet.

On January 25, 2020, LeBron James pᴀssed Bryant for the No 3 spot on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. James bestowed love upon Bryant after the game with ‘Black Mamba’ returning the favor.

A day later, Bryant was among nine killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna also among the victims.

Bryant was 41, less than four years earlier retiring from the NBA after spending his entire career with the Lakers.

Five years since Bryant’s pᴀssing, and his legacy lives on, knowing the basketball world would never be the same without him getting to see how his contributions would prosper.

Kobe Bryant pᴀssed away five years ago Sunday in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California

On board the helicopter was Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna and seven others

Tributes from every part of the sports world honored the Bryant duo with many in shock

It was at 2:24 Eastern time that the first report of Bryant’s death was made public. The outlet that reported the news was later scolded by local police for outpacing them to notify all of the victim’s families.

Yet, the news was unfortunately confirmed shortly thereafter. Calls for the NBA to postpone their games were immediate and unsuccessful.

‘I think the world actually stood still for a moment,’ Elissa Grabow, a former ᴀssistant of Kobe’s, said on the CNN documentary ‘Kobe: The Making of a Legend’ via PEOPLE. 

College basketball stars that had Noon games were finishing as the news trickled out.

One such instance saw a Michigan State staffer relay the news to head coach Tom Izzo.

To prepare his biggest star in the 2020 season, Cᴀssius Winston, for a post-game, on-camera interview, Izzo told him with CBS’ cameras catching Winston’s shocked reaction, which went viral on social media.

‘I cried all day, all night,’ said former NBA star Tracy McGrady. ‘I couldn’t believe it… not Kobe… not Kobe.’

A public memorial service for Kobe and Gianna was held eloquently on February 24, with the date combining the jersey numbers of the Bryant duo (2 and 24) being honored.

‘Kobe had a very, very, very special relationship with my kids,’ said sports journalist Scoop Jackson. ‘The thing that got me, that was hardest for me, was telling them. Yeah, I’ve done some hard s*** in my life but that was one of the most difficult ones.’

WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes ‘immediately thought of Vanessa’ upon hearing the news.

‘Because as a parent, and as a wife, but as a parent, you never think you’re going to lose your child,’ Swoopes added.

A statue of Bryant was later erected at Crypto.com Arena, where Bryant played home games

Vanessa Bryant, Kobe’s wife and Gianna’s mother, spoke at his memorial service in 2020

Bryant was known for his partnership with Shaquille O’Neal during their time in Los Angeles

The former head trainer for the Lakers, Gary Vitti, also was asked about Bryant for the documentary.

‘I was never supposed to outlive Kobe Bryant, that wasn’t the plan,’ Vitti said. ‘… I wasn’t going to see him do that, and his daughter. That thing about “time heals all wounds” that’s not true. They don’t heal.’

Vitti added that he watched Bryant ‘grow up’ and that in return Bryant ‘watched me grow old, and then he was going to watch me go into the next life.’

Bryant would surely be one of the biggest cheerleaders of the rise in popularity of women’s basketball over the last few years.

She was invested in the sport long before Caitlin Clark or Angel Reese was a household name.

Some of them will no doubt pay tribute to Bryant on Sunday with the five-year anniversary happening while the new Unrivaled basketball league takes place.

Bryant was an irreplaceable legend and his loss feels as humungous as it did five years ago. The reactions from those across America are still being felt today.