"An unthinkable day." NBA great Kobe Bryant and his 13yo daughter Gigi have been killed in a helicopter crash.

Kobe Bryant, widely considered one of the greatest players in basketball, has been killed in a helicopter crash in Southern California alongside his 13-year-old daughter Gianna “Gigi” Maria-Onore.

Kobe and his daughter were on a private helicopter when it went down after a fire broke out.

A total of nine people are confirmed dead, with representatives for TMZ Sport confirming the 41-year-old and 13-year-old are among the deceased.

The other victims are unknown at this stage.

Clippers Head Coach Doc Rivers talking about former opponent Kobe Bryant’s death. Post continues after video.

Kobe’s stardom.

Kobe Bryant was a transcendent star who went straight from high school to the game’s biggest stage.

He won five NBA championship rings with the Los Angeles Lakers and was the face of the franchise during his 20-year career.

A small forward and shooting guard, Bryant averaged 25 points during his career and twice led the NBA in scoring.

He was an 18-times NBA All-Star who wore the jersey numbers 24 and 8 – both of which were retired by the Lakers – and continued the ‘Showtime’ tradition of the storied franchise that has been home to the likes of Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O’Neal.

The fourth-highest scorer in NBA history with 33,643 points, Bryant only gave up the third spot on the list on Saturday night to LeBron James.

Born in Philadelphia, Bryant was only 17 when he was taken as the 13th overall draft pick by the Charlotte Hornets in the 1996 NBA draft.

But he never played for the Hornets and immediately traded to the Lakers, where he played his entire career before retiring in 2016.

In 2008, he was named the NBA Most Valuable Player.

Internationally, he won two Olympic gold medals, part of the United States team in 2008 and 2012.

Kobe and Gigi's family.

Kobe Bryant and wife Vanessa have been together since he was 21, and share four daughters: Natalia Diamante, 17, Gianna Maria-Onore, 13 (confirmed deceased in the helicopter crash), Bianka Bella, 3, and Capri Kobe, less than one year old.

Natalia, the oldest, turned 17 years old just seven days ago, with Kobe posting a proud dad photo on his Instagram.

 

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Happy Birthday my baby. I love you beyond measure. You will always be my little Principessa #17

A post shared by Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) on Jan 19, 2020 at 7:19am PST

Kobe often updated his 12.7 million Instagram followers about the love he had for his family, with his feed full of smiling pictures of his wife and kids.

"On this day 20 years ago I met my best friend, my Queen (Vanessa). I decided to take her on a date to Disneyland tonight to celebrate old school style (pre 4 princesses) I love you my mamacita per sempre," he wrote eight weeks ago on his anniversary.

The couple were married in 2001, announcing their engagement on her 18th birthday. They filed for divorce in 2011, but then announced their decision to stay together in 2013.

Early reports from both TMZ and Sports Illustrated say that Kobe and his daughter Gigi were on their way to one of her basketball games when the helicopter crashed.

Gigi was keen to follow in her father's footsteps and according to Kobe was "hellbent" on playing college basketball for the University of Connecticut, reports TMZ.

Speaking to the All the Smoke podcast just two weeks ago, Kobe said his daughter's love for the sport reinvigorated him post retirement to experience and appreciate basketball in a different way.

"So before Gigi got into basketball I hardly watched it, but now that's she's into basketball, we watch every night," he said.

"We just had so much fun because it was the first time I was seeing the game through her eyes. It wasn't me sitting there you know as an athlete or a player or something like that, and you know it's like about me, and I don't like that. It was her, she was having such a good time," he added.

Tributes.

News of Kobe and Gigi's death is trending worldwide, with tributes starting to trickle in as friends and fans digest the news.

The New York Times reports around 200 people are huddled together in the foggy Calabasas at the foot of the hill closest to the crash. Several people were wearing Kobe gear and had basketballs.

There’s no words to express the pain Im going through with this tragedy of loosing my neice Gigi & my brother @kobebryant I love u and u will be missed. My condolences goes out to the Bryant family and the families of the other passengers on board. IM SICK RIGHT NOW pic.twitter.com/pigHywq3c1

— SHAQ (@SHAQ) January 26, 2020

 

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I don’t have the words. Every ounce of my heart is with you, Vanessa. ????

A post shared by Kris Jenner (@krisjenner) on Jan 26, 2020 at 1:13pm PST

Reports are that basketball great Kobe Bryant and three others have been killed in a helicopter crash in California. That is terrible news!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 26, 2020

Kobe Bryant, despite being one of the truly great basketball players of all time, was just getting started in life. He loved his family so much, and had such strong passion for the future. The loss of his beautiful daughter, Gianna, makes this moment even more devastating....

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 26, 2020

My heart is in pieces hearing the news of this unimaginable tragedy. I can’t fathom what the families are going through. Kobe meant so much to me and to us all. Sending my prayers, love, and endless condolences to Vanessa and the family and anyone who lost someone on that flight.

— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) January 26, 2020

Kobe was a legend on the court and just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act. To lose Gianna is even more heartbreaking to us as parents. Michelle and I send love and prayers to Vanessa and the entire Bryant family on an unthinkable day.

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) January 26, 2020

 

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Incredibly sad news of the passing of basketball giant Kobe Bryant and his 13 year old daughter, “Gigi” in a chopper crash in LA this morning. I was lucky enough to see him play with his beloved LA Lakers at Madison Square Gardens a few years back. Phenomenal. Can’t even begin to imagine what his wife of 19 years, Vanessa and three other daughters - which includes seven month old baby, Capri - are going through right now. Just 41.

A post shared by Lisa Wilkinson (@lisa_wilkinson) on Jan 26, 2020 at 1:39pm PST

 

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This is too much. Rest In Peace and love together, legends. Growing up a Kobe fan brought so much joy to my life, like so many, and we were all so excited to see sweet Gigi play someday. Sending strength and my deepest condolences to Vanessa, the Bryant family, and all the families affected by this tragedy.

A post shared by Gigi Hadid (@gigihadid) on Jan 26, 2020 at 1:10pm PST

 

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Loss for words right now! The greatest competitor i have ever gone up against and played with. Learned so much from watching you play as a kid. Could never get past you in the playoffs in the west. But had the honor of playing beside you in two Olympics. Can’t believe you are gone. ???????? for @vanessabryant and their whole family. #mambamentality????

A post shared by Deron Williams (@dwill8) on Jan 26, 2020 at 12:16pm PST

Kobe, We love you brother

We’re praying for your family and appreciate the life you’ve lived and all the inspiration you gave pic.twitter.com/pxbgLOOmpY

— ye (@kanyewest) January 26, 2020

 

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My heart is so heavy. No one should ever experience what the families involved are going through. This has affected us all so much but I cannot begin to imagine what Vanessa is feeling losing her husband and her baby girl. I cry just thinking about it. I am praying for the Bryant family, the Altobelli family and the families of all who perished in this unthinkable tragedy. Rest In Peace Legend

A post shared by Kim Kardashian West (@kimkardashian) on Jan 26, 2020 at 4:03pm PST

 

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It can't be. You always encouraged me mamba. Gave me me some of the best quotes that we smile about to this day.! Love you man!

A post shared by Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) on Jan 26, 2020 at 12:20pm PST

RIP Kobe, hero to many including my grandson, extraordinary athlete and always kind to me & my family. My deepest condolences to his family

— Whoopi Goldberg (@WhoopiGoldberg) January 26, 2020

Man I don’t even know where to start???????? I started playing ball because of KOBE after watching the 2010 finals. I had never watched ball before that and that finals was the turning point of my life. I WANTED TO BE LIKE KOBE. I’m so FREAKING SAD right now!!!!

RIP LEGEND

— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) January 26, 2020

Most people will remember Kobe as the magnificent athlete who inspired a whole generation of basketball players. But I will always remember him as a man who was much more than an athlete. pic.twitter.com/9EZuwk8wrV

— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (@kaj33) January 26, 2020

The game has lost a real champion. Our thoughts & prayers go out to the Bryant family & the families of those lost today. pic.twitter.com/LLLBMJCUUm

— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) January 26, 2020

We miss you already Kobe ❤️❤️????????????????

— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) January 26, 2020

A statement from Michael Jordan regarding Kobe Bryant's death. pic.twitter.com/8fNZcQQ3pF

— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) January 26, 2020

More to come.

With AAP.

Feature image: Instagram/Kobe Bryant.