Kobe Bryant's 13-Year Old Daughter Gianna Also Passed Away In Tragic Helicopter Crash

Kobe Bryant's 13-year old daughter Gianna was among the five people that died in the tragic helicopter crash this morning.

News of the 41-year old's death was confirmed after private helicopter went down and burst into flames in Calabasas, California.

And it has now being reported by TMZ, among other outlets, that the 13-year old was also onboard the Sikorsky S-76 along with her father and another player and parent as they were on the way to a practice session at the Mamba Academy.

Gianna, Bryant's second-eldest of four daughters with wife Vanessa, was an up and coming basketballer who wanted to follow in her father's footsteps.

Her love for the game brought her father back into the sport following his retirement in 2016. USA Today say the two of them would watch the NBA League Pass "nearly every night" this season, while Kobe had recently brought her courtside to see his beloved Lakers in the flesh on two occasions.

He also coached his daughter's basketball team AAU basketball team, fittingly called 'The Mambas'.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Bryant family at this extremely difficult time.

Topics: Basketball, NBA, Los Angeles Lakers

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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