Kobe Bryant death anniversary: what tributes and memories have been shared?

On Sunday 26 January 2020 the world of sport was shaken to its core when Kobe Bryant, the world famous former NBA star and player synonymous with the LA Lakers franchise, was killed in a helicopter crash, along with his daughter, six other passengers and the pilot.

The accident in Calabasas (California), happened as the former NBA superstar was travelling to Orange County to a youth basketball tournament with eight others, including his 13-year-old daughter Gianna.

Bryant’s private helicopter (a Sikorsky S-76B, a helicopter used by the likes of Donald Trump and the Queen of England) crashed when a fire is believed to have started.

Bryant played with the Lakers for twenty seasons in the NBA, picking up five championship rings during that time. His wife and he had four children, Natalia, Gianna, Bianka, and Capri. Gianna was on board with her father where she was set to participate in a game she was playing in at the star's basketball academy.

Kobe Bryant death anniversary: tributes and memories

There’s a distinct lack of team tributes to Kobe Bryant today, as the Bryant family expressly asked the NBA and teams not to share tribute videos marking the anniversary and that photographs of the crash are not re-shared online.

However many have been paying their respects to Kobe, his daughter and the seven others who passed away one year ago today.

Brooklyn Nets player Kyrie Irving wore Bryant’s jersey in tribute, walking to a game against Miami Heat last night.