The basketball world took to social media Sunday to pay tribute to Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, who was killed in a helicopter crash five years ago along with eight other passengers, including his daughter Gianna.
The crash happened en route to Bryant’s Mamba Sports Academy in Newbury Park, California, where he was scheduled to coach his daughter’s team.
The tragic crash shocked the local area and the basketball world, and five years later, Bryant’s legacy continues to grow and inspire. The NBA legend was was posthumously inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021.
Kobe Bryant tributes shared on social media
Social media was filled with photographs, memories and stories of the Hall of Famer as people looked back at his life and career.
All things Lakers: Latest Los Angeles Lakers news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.
The Lakers did not put out a formal statement but shared a photograph of Bryant sitting courtside of a basketball game with his arm around his Gianna.
A statue of Kobe and Gianna together in front of Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles was unveiled in August of 2024. It was the second of three Kobe Bryant-related statues placed outside of the venue. A date for unveiling the third statue has not been publicly announced.
Carmelo Anthony shares moment with Kobe Bryant
Former Team USA teammate Carmelo Anthony shared a photograph with Bryant and a caption that read ‘Sometimes you never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.’
Anthony and Bryant were members of the 2008 and 2012 Olympic gold medal teams. The teams also featured Lakers forward LeBron James and San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver remembers Kobe Bryant
The NBA’s official X (formerly Twitter) account also shared a portrait of Bryant and a statement from league commissioner Adam Silver.
‘Kobe Bryant continues to serve as an inspiration to aspiring and current NBA and WNBA players, young athletes playing at all levels and those who are motivated solely by his relentless pursuit of excellence. Our thoughts today are with Vanessa and the Bryant family as we remember Kobe and their daughter, Gianna, with whom he shared a special bond around a profound love of the game of basketball.’
WNBA honors Kobe, Gianna Bryant and her teammates
The WNBA’s official X account shared a picture remembering Gianna, Alyssa Altobelli, and Payton Chester.
Altobelli and Chester were teammates of Gianna and were also in the crash. The trio were selected as honorary draftees during the league’s 2020 draft.
How other NBA players honored Kobe Bryant on social media
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum did not share a post about Bryant, his all-time favorite player, but continues to have images that feature Bryant in his profile photo on his official X and Instagram accounts.
Tatum, who played against the Lakers earlier this week, spent time working on his game and being mentored by Bryant. The Laker star’s former teammate, Pau Gasol, also has a photo of Bryant as his X account profile photo.
Jayden Daniels pays tribute to Kobe Bryant
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels was asked about Bryant earlier this week.
‘Kobe is my favorite athlete of all time, especially growing up in Southern California, watching the Lakers and watching Kobe,’ Daniels told reporters. ‘Just growing up you fall in love with his game and who he is and as I got older you fall in love with his mindset and everything like that and how he approached the game. He never cheated the game and he took it serious and he gave it his all every time he was on the court.’
Daniels and the Commanders played Bryant’s favorite team, the Philadelphia Eagles, on Sunday for the NFC championship game with a chance to advance to the Super Bowl. The quarterback wore Kobe cleats during pregame warmups.
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
