Legendary basketball player Kobe Bryant dies

(Patria) - One of the greatest basketball players of the 21st century, Kobe Bryant, has died, reports American TMZ Sports. Kobe Bryant died at the age of 42 in Calabasas on Sunday morning local time when his helicopter crashed.

American media are reporting the news that the legendary basketball player was traveling with at least three other people when the helicopter crashed near Calabasas. All passengers died.

Initial information from the scene indicates that five people died, and that Bryant's wife Vanessa was not on the helicopter. According to TMZ, which first reported the news of Bryant's death, Kobe's daughter Gianna Maria Onore was also on the helicopter and died in the crash. She was 13 years old.

Kobe had been traveling by helicopter for years, even during his time playing for the LA Lakers.

He played for the LA Lakers for two decades, winning five championships and making 18 All-Star appearances before retiring after the 2016 season.