Fans remember Kobe and Gigi Bryant as the NBA pays emotional tribute to the Lakers legend and his daughter four years after tragic death in helicopter crash: ‘This is still heartbreaking’

Fans remember Kobe and Gigi Bryant as the NBA pays emotional tribute to the Lakers legend and his daughter four years after tragic death in helicopter crash: 'This is still heartbreaking'

Most watched Sport videos

NBA fans flooded social media with tributes remembering Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gigi on the fourth anniversary of their pᴀssing. 

The Lakers posted a pH๏τo of Kobe and Gigi sitting courtside at a Los Angeles game and wrote ‘Forever’ with a purple heart emoji. The post was also shared by the NBA’s account. 

Several teams including the Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks, USC Football and the LA Galaxy dropped purple and gold hearts in the comments as fans expressed their grief and acknowledged Kobe’s legacy. 

‘This is still heartbreaking even 4 years after the fact and will always be,’ one fan commented. ‘Rest in power to all the victims of of that helicopter crash.’ 

‘Four years on, and the legacy of Kobe Bryant and Gigi still inspires us daily,’ another  wrote. ‘Their pᴀssion and dedication to the game and to each other were unmatched. Remembering their smiles today.’

Fans flooded social media with comments remembering Kobe Bryant four years after his death

Fans flooded social media with comments remembering Kobe Bryant four years after his death

💜💛 https://t.co/5ZRTNqTjzE

— NBA (@NBA) January 26, 2024 The Lakers legend, along with daughter Gigi and seven others, died in a helicopter crash

The Lakers legend, along with daughter Gigi and seven others, died in a helicopter crash 

Fans remembered Bryant's legacy four years after he pᴀssed away as some still grieve over it

Fans remembered Bryant’s legacy four years after he pᴀssed away as some still grieve over it 

‘Can’t believe it’s been four years,’ a third fan added. ‘This wound is still so fresh. Probably the only time I cried for a celebrity’s death.’

‘Legends are missed, but are never forgotten,’ a fourth said. 

The Bryants died on January 26, 2020 in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California. 

Kobe and Gigi boarded the helicopter with six family friends and pilot Ara Zobayan. The group flew out of John Wayne Airport in Orange County to attend a basketball game at the Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks. 

The Helicopter reportedly departed at 9:06am PST and crashed on the side of a mountain at 9:45am after dealing with heavy fog. All eight pᴀssengers and the pilot were killed on impact. 

Bryant will forever be remembered by fans for his 20-season NBA career with the Lakers. 

The Black Mamba spearheaded the Purple and Gold’s legendary run in the 2000s, winning five тιтles and two Finals MVPs. 

Bryant played 20 season with the Los Angeles Lakers where he won five NBA Championships

Bryant played 20 season with the Los Angeles Lakers where he won five NBA Championships 

Bryant led the Lakers to тιтles in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009 and 2010, winning finals MVP twice

Bryant led the Lakers to тιтles in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009 and 2010, winning finals MVP twice

Gigi was a player at the Mamba Sports Academy where she was closely mentored by her father

Gigi was a player at the Mamba Sports Academy where she was closely mentored by her father

The Lakers retired Bryant's jersey numbers after he retired from playing basketball in 2016

The Lakers retired Bryant’s jersey numbers after he retired from playing basketball in 2016

Bryant won the regular season MVP in 2008, made 18 All-Star appearances and had 11 All-NBA First Team selections among many accolades before retiring in 2016. The Lakers retired the numbers 8 and 24 in honor of Bryant in 2017. 

Gigi was a player at the Mamba Sports Academy where she was closely mentored by her father.  

After their death, Orange County supervisors voted unanimously to declare August 24 as ‘Kobe Bryant Day’ as the date holds Kobe’s legendary jersey numbers. The City of Los Angeles started the tradition earlier as they began honoring it after his retirement. 

Bryant was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame along with contemporaries Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan on May 15, 2021. 

Related Posts

Knicks eye shock candidate for coaching job… two years after he was fired by Celtics over affair scandal

Knicks eye shock candidate for coaching job… two years after he was fired by Celtics over affair scandal

Several coaching candidates have emerged in New York as the Knicks look to replace fired Tom Thibodeau after the franchise’s most successful season in a quarter century….

Top ESPN basketball analyst Doris Burke ‘at risk of losing her job’

Top ESPN basketball analyst Doris Burke ‘at risk of losing her job’

ESPN’s top NBA broadcast booth could be reshuffled after just one season, according to The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand. Hall-of-Fame analyst Doris Burke is not guaranteed to be…

Phoenix Suns drops asking price for Kevin Durant in trade talks, NBA insider claims

Phoenix Suns drops asking price for Kevin Durant in trade talks, NBA insider claims

The Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets aren’t actively discussing a Kevin Durant deal, but that could change quickly as summer trade season heats up, according to The…

Bronny James set for major new Lakers role amid doubts over dad LeBron’s NBA future

Bronny James set for major new Lakers role amid doubts over dad LeBron’s NBA future

Despite struggling as a rookie, Bronny James is set for a big sophomore season with the Los Angeles Lakers, according to one Western Conference executive.  After being…

Humiliating moment Tyrese Haliburton looks poised to get MVP… only to be snubbed in favor of Pacers teammate

Humiliating moment Tyrese Haliburton looks poised to get MVP… only to be snubbed in favor of Pacers teammate

That tired old proverb about the dangers of ᴀssumptions resurfaced after the Indiana Pacers clinched the Eastern Conference Finals with a 125-108 Game 6 win over the…

Pacers star Pascal Siakam clashes with reporter in toe-curling exchange after Knicks loss

Pacers star Pascal Siakam clashes with reporter in toe-curling exchange after Knicks loss

Indiana Pacers star Pascal Siakam was caught in a heated back-and-forth with a reporter following Thursday’s Game 5 defeat to the New York Knicks.  Siakam and the Pacers…