Bryant was one of nine people who died when the helicopter they were in crashed on a hillside in Calabasas, California. Among the victims was Bryant's 13-year-old daughter Gianna.

Kobe Bean Bryant was an American professional basketball player. A shooting guard, Bryant played his entire 20-season career in the National Basketball Association with the Los Angeles Lakers. He entered the NBA directly from high school and won five NBA championships.

Barack Obama posted, ` Kobe was a legend on the court and just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act. To lose Gianna is even more heartbreaking to us as parents. Michelle and I send love and prayers to Vanessa and the entire Bryant family on an unthinkable day.`

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Kobe Bryant's friends and fans reacted on Twitter to news that the 41-year-old NBA legend was among the nine killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, on Sunday. (📸: Getty Images)

A post shared by CNN (@cnn) on Jan 27, 2020 at 12:00pm PST

Tributes poured in from around to world to honor the five-time NBA champion.