The City of Angels Celebrates Kobe

For many years, Bryant had been using helicopters like a limo service to avoid Southern California’s horrendous traffic on his way to games at Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles and team practices in El Segundo. This enabled him to save precious time for his fatherly responsibilities down in Newport Beach.

After retiring from professional basketball in 2016, Bryant continued to use his luxury helicopter as he attended to his new endeavors, such as coaching his daughter’s basketball team at Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, the place they were headed to on that fateful day.

The thick clouds and fog that Sunday morning are believed to be a contributing factor in the mishap.  In any case, some observers are still puzzled as to how Bryant’s helicopter could have crashed.  By all accounts, the twin-engine Sikorsky S-76B has a strong record of reliability and safety. Moreover, the helicopter pilot, Aza Zobayan, was reportedly a very experienced and capable pilot.

The public’s questions will be answered once the National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) completes its investigation in 12 to 18 months.  In the meantime, the NTSB has stated in its preliminary report released on Feb. 7 that Bryant’s helicopter did not suffer engine failure.

This tragedy was heartbreaking to many sports fans in America, and perhaps the entire world, but none more so than in Los Angeles—the city Kobe called home since he was drafted by the Lakers at 17.

Not long after the shocking news broke out, the outpouring of grief over the death of Kobe and Gianna began as mourners (many of them donning Kobe Bryant jerseys and shoes) converged outside Staples Center, the arena where Kobe fought his many battles, and the LA Live plaza across the street.  Angelenos paid tribute to their sports hero with flowers, candles, letters, t-shirts, basketballs and balloons, creating a sea of purple and gold. Elsewhere in the city, other makeshift memorials took shape as well. 

Artists across the city expressed their sympathies by painting outdoor murals of Kobe and Gianna.

At night, prominent buildings were lit in purple and gold, in an apparent homage to the Laker icon.

The self-styled Black Mamba, one of greatest basketball players of all time, has brought great honor to the City of Angels, leading the Lakers to five NBA championships, three of which were in collaboration with fellow Laker great Shaquille O’Neal.  

Beloved by sports fans in Los Angeles and all over the planet for his superior athletic abilities and fierce competitive spirit, Bryant—who played in 18 NBA All-Star games during his 20-year career—earned the respect of everyone in the basketball world, including his adversaries.  

Since his playing days, Bryant did not just pursue NBA trophies; he also made some serious efforts to give back to the city that showered him with cheers and appreciation.  In 2011, he and his wife Vanessa established the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation, a charity initiative that raised funds and promoted awareness about youth homelessness in Los Angeles.   

In the wake of Kobe and Gianna’s untimely deaths, Vanessa Bryant thanked the millions of people who expressed their love and appreciation for her deceased husband and daughter, even as she announced the setting up of the MambaOnThree Fund, which would help the families of the seven other fatalities in the helicopter crash: Alyssa Altobelli, John Altobelli, Keri Altobelli, Payton Chester, Sarah Chester, Christina Mauser, and Ara Zobayan.  

The weeks of tributes across Los Angeles will culminate in a public memorial to be held at the Staples Center on Feb. 24.  Rich in symbolism—as the date itself (2/24) reflects the basketball jerseys of Gianna and Kobe—this grand affair is expected to celebrate the life and legacy of Kobe Bryant, as well as honor Gianna and the seven other individuals who perished in the crash.