The Los Angeles Lakers have released a statement following the death of NBA legend, Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, 13.
The pair died along with seven others in a tragic helicopter crash on Sunday, Jan. 26th.
Posting a photo of Kobe Bryant and his daughter, the basketball club wrote: “We are devastated and have been forever changed by the sudden loss of Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna.
“We send our love to Vanessa, the Bryant family, and to the families of the other passengers. Words cannot express what Kobe means to the Los Angeles Lakers, our fans, and our city. More than a basketball player, he was a beloved father, husband, and teammate. Their love and light will remain in our hearts forever.
A post shared by Los Angeles Lakers (@lakers) on Jan 29, 2020 at 7:54pm PST
“The Mamba Sports Foundation has set up the MambaOnThree Fund to support the families affected by this tragedy. To help, please visit MambaOnThree.org. For those who are inspired to continue Kobe and Gianna’s legacy in youth sports, please visit MambaSportsFoundation.org.”
Kobe Bryant, an 18-time All-Star and 11-time All-NBA first-teamer spent his entire career with Los Angeles Lakers. He led the Lakers to five NBA championships and scored 33,643 points in his 20-year NBA career.
When he retired after the 2015-16 season, the franchise retired his No. 8 and No. 24 jersey numbers in December 2017.
The club’s statement comes just after Kobe’s wife Vanessa Bryant broke her silence on the deaths of her husband and their daughter.
