The mixed martial arts community mourns the death of basketball legend Kobe Bryant.
On Sunday, the 18-time NBA All-star was killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas , California with his daughter, Gianna. He was 41 years old.
Bryant spent 20 years in the NBA, winning five championships with the Los Angeles Lakers along with two Finals MVP trophies.
In 2016, he decided to retire from basketball, scoring 60 points in his final game.
Dubbed as one of the greatest basketball players of all-time, Bryant is also a 9x All-Defensive First Team, a two-time scoring champion, and is the top four player with the highest number of points scored in NBA history behind LeBron James, Karl Malone, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
As one of the most popular and respected athletes in the world, Bryant’s untimely death stunned the sporting world including the MMA community.
A million apologies and condolences we just lost a super athlete #ripKobe
— Jorge Masvidal UFC (@GamebredFighter) January 26, 2020
Thank you for choosing me KB. Thank you for trusting me with this show that meant so much to you. It was your brainchild. We will honor you with every episode. You were just the best, and getting to know you is something I’ll never forget. #ripmamba pic.twitter.com/w1qGZ2gNxm
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) January 27, 2020
https://twitter.com/francis_ngannou/status/1221528199911243783
Rip pic.twitter.com/tO1GicrqS7
— Amanda Nunes (@Amanda_Leoa) January 26, 2020
https://twitter.com/danawhite/status/1221519443102068741
RIP to the legend @kobebryant Honestly can’t even believe that this news is true. Growing up wasn’t a Kobe/Laker fan, but couldn’t help to admire, appreciate, and respect the competitor that he was, and all that he… https://t.co/VVRJvF7cpm
— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) January 26, 2020
RIP to a real leader and motivator #KobeBryant #8 #24 pic.twitter.com/QlP2F7cVkx
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) January 26, 2020
https://twitter.com/MikeMav22/status/1221519958020173830
https://twitter.com/DerekBrunson/status/1221519029573124097
Just sad man…
Woke up to the news and it’s sad az.— Israel Adesanya (@stylebender) January 26, 2020
https://twitter.com/CubSwanson/status/1221557523490041856
https://twitter.com/MeganA_mma/status/1221523832579559424
What a man !! #ripkobe https://t.co/rTdArzNdjJ
— JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) January 26, 2020
(Featured Image Source: Instagram/ Kobe Bryant)