The 41-year-old, father of four, was in his private helicopter with four other people, including his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, when a fire occurred on board, it is reported. There are no survivors.
The crash occurred around 10 a.m. local time amid foggy conditions in the hills overlooking Calabasas, California.
Bryant starred for two decades with the Los Angeles Lakers, winning five championships and making 18 All-Star Games before hanging up his basketball shoes following the 2016 season.
Following his retirement, Bryant won an Oscar for best animated short in 2018 for a film called Dear Basketball, based on a poem he wrote about his retirement from the game.
On Saturday night, another NBA legend, LeBron James, paid tribute to Bryant after passing him to become the third-highest scorer in the league’s history.
“He is someone that I used as inspiration. It was like, wow. Seeing a kid, 17 years old, come into the NBA and trying to make an impact on a franchise, I used it as motivation,” said James. “He helped me before he even knew of me because of what he was able to do. So, just to be able to, at this point of my career, to share the same [Lakers] jersey that he wore, be with this historical franchise and just represent the purple and gold, it’s very humbling.”
Bryant returned the respect, Tweeting his praise for fellow player, James.
Continuing to move the game forward @KingJames. Much respect my brother #33644
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) January 26, 2020
Bryant and his daughter are survived by his wife, Vanessa Laine Bryant, and three daughters Bianka, Natalia, and Capri.