Farewell Kobe Bryant: 1978 - 2020

NBA champion Bryant was considered one of basketball's all-time greats, was 41

Last updated:
3 MIN READ
1/26
A mourner carries a book at a makeshift shrine at Staples Center after retired Los Angeles Lakers basketball star Kobe Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash, in Los Angeles, California
Reuters
2/26
Chicago Bulls Michael Jordan, (R) playing for the Eastern Conference, moves past Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant of the Western Division, in the second half of the NBA All-Star game at Madison Square Garden in New York February 8, 1998.
Reuters
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Washington Wizards forward Michael Jordan walks past Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant during first half action in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 12, 2002
Reuters
4/26
Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant, who played for the Western Conference all-stars, talks to the press as he sits next to his MVP trophy he received at the 51th NBA All-Star game in Philadelphia, February 10, 2002.
Reuters
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Washington Wizards Michael Jordan with the East All-Star Squad and Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant with the West All-Star Squad chat during the second half of the 52nd NBA All-Star game in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. February 9, 2003.
Reuters
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Kobe Bryant of the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers attends a gathering with his fans in Shanghai during his "Supernatural Asia Tour 2007"
Reuters
7/26
Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant celebrates a shot by Steve Blake against the Houston Rockets during the second half of their NBA game in Los Angeles, California October 26, 2010.
Reuters
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Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant chews on his jersey as he turns around to listen to coach Mike Brown during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks in Los Angeles December 29, 2011.
Reuters
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Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant slam dunks against the Sacramento Kings during their NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, California, January 28, 2011.
Reuters
10/26
Lakers guard Kobe Bryant smiles during an interview at NBA media day for the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team in Los Angeles October 1, 2012.
Reuters
11/26
FILE PHOTO: Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant celebrates after dunking against the New York Knicks during their NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, California, January 9, 2011. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo
REUTERS
12/26
Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal (R) kisses the Most Valuable Player trophy as teammate Kobe Bryant kisses the NBA championship trophy as they celebrate in the locker room after winning the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers, June 19, 2000.
Reuters
13/26
Los Angeles Lakers basketball player Kobe Bryant and his wife Vanessa arrive as guests for the 2003 Teen Choice Awards, in Los Angeles, U.S. August 2, 2003.
Reuters
14/26
FILE PHOTO: Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant loses control of the ball during Game 1 of their NBA Western Conference first round playoff basketball game against the New Orleans Hornets in Los Angeles, California April 17, 2011. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo
REUTERS
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U.S. basketball player Kobe Bryant smiles as he answers a reporter's question during a news conference in the Olympic media centre before the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games July 27, 2012
Reuters
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U.S. basketball player Kobe Bryant (R) talks with his teammate LeBron James during a news conference in the Olympic media centre before the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games, Britain July 27, 2012.
Reuters
17/26
Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant smiles with daughters Gianna and Natalia with the Bill Russell MVP Trophy after his team defeated the Boston Celtics in Game 7 to win the 2010 NBA Finals basketball series in Los Angeles, California, June 17, 2010.
Reuters
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Kevin Durant (L), Lebron James (C) and Kobe Bryant pose with their gold medals during victory ceremony at the North Greenwich Arena during the London 2012 Olympic Games August 12, 2012.
Reuters
19/26
Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant (24) and Phoenix Suns' Shaquille O'Neal fight for a rebound during their NBA basketball game in Los Angeles February 26, 2009.
Reuters
20/26
Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant kisses his daughter Gianna (R) after they defeated the Orlando Magic to win the NBA basketball championship in Orlando, Florida, June 14, 2009
Reuters
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U.S. President Barack Obama shares a laugh with Kobe Bryant during a ceremony honoring the 2009 NBA basketball champions Los Angeles Lakers in the East Room at the White House in Washington, January 25, 2010.
Reuters
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Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant carries his daughter Gianna, as his wife Vanessa and daughter Natalia (2nd R) stand next to him during the NBA Championship parade in Los Angeles, California, June 21, 2010.
Reuters
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Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) defends Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) in the first quarter at Quicken Loans Arena, Feb 10,2016.
USA Today Sports
24/26
Kobe Bryant with Best Animated Short Film Award for "Dear Basketball", March 4, 2018.
Reuters
25/26
Kobe Bryant is pictured with his daughter Gianna at the WNBA All Star Game at Mandalay Bay Events Center, July 27, 2019
USA TODAY Sports
26/26
Los Angeles, CA, USA; Fans walk in front of a billboard that displays a remembrance to former Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant who died in helicopter crash.
USA TODAY Sports

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