Charlotte Hornets: Former draft pick Kobe Bryant killed in helicopter crash

Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant. (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant. (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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On Sunday afternoon, tragedy struck the NBA as former Charlotte Hornets draft pick Kobe Bryant was killed .

While everything was quiet on Sunday morning, everything changed in a blink of an eye. On Sunday morning, former Charlotte Hornets lottery pick, Kobe Bryant, was killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California.

The report came from TMZ, who initially confirmed that Bryant was in the crash. A later report indicated that Bryant’s daughter, Gianna, was also on board. Along with Bryant and his daughter, three other people passed away; the pilot, Gianna’s teammate and their parent.

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This news has stunned the NBA, as no one was expecting this to happen to Kobe Bryant at 41 years old. They both leave behind Vanessa Laine Bryant and her three children.

Kobe Bryant lived a life full of success, which motivated many across the league. As news of Bryant’s death surfaced, many NBA players, including Hornets players, shared their love for Bryant on social media.

The Charlotte Hornets initially drafted Bryant in the 1996 NBA draft, but he was later traded to the Los Angles Lakers a week later. After that, the rest was history, as he had a legendary career with the Lakers, as he spent twenty seasons with the team.

Bryant left this world as an amazing father and a basketball legend. He finished his career with five NBA championships and averaged 25.0 points, 4.7 assists, and 5.2 rebounds per game.

At the end of his career, he played his final game as a champion, finishing with sixty points in a comeback win over the Utah Jazz on April 13th, 2016. Following this game, Bryant said, “Mamba out.”

Following the end of his career, Bryant continued to serve the public by helping those in need and giving back to many charities across the nation. In the end, he was a true pillar of the community.

dark. Next. A Tribute to NBA legend Kobe Bryant

While Kobe Bryant never played a minute for the Hornets, he will always be their thirteenth overall pick. I send my thoughts and prayers to the Bryant family.