‘My idol’: Aussie star’s touching tribute to Kobe Bryant after helicopter tragedy
His tragic death has shocked the world. Now, Australian basketballer Liz Cambage has shared her personal connection to the Lakers legend, Kobe Bryant.
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His tragic death in a helicopter crash has completely shocked the world.
Now, Australian basketballer Liz Cambage has shared her personal connection to Lakers legend, Kobe Bryant, whose death has gripped Hollywood and the sporting industry.
Cambage described Bryant as her “idol” and “inspiration” in a heartbreaking social media post, which also paid tribute to Bryant’s teenage daughter, Gianna (known as “Gigi”), who died in the accident along with seven others.
“I can’t stop thinking about Gigi and her teammates,” Cambage posted on her Instagram story.
She teamed the social media tribute with screenshots of Cambage’s own personal messages to Bryant discussing her basketball career, as well as a selfie with the Lakers star and his daughter posing with her basketball teammates.
‘UNIMAGINABLE TRAGEDY’
English soccer superstar David Beckham and Hollywood giant and Lakers fan Jack Nicholson have joined the long list of prominent people to express their sorrow and disbelief at the death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant.
And Taylor Swift said Bryant’s death was “an unimaginable tragedy”.
Beckham penned an emotional tribute to Kobe Bryant, saying he was a special athlete whose legacy “will live on”.
“It’s taken me hours to work out what to write and still my words won’t ever be enough to describe how I am feeling after the tragic loss of Kobe,” Beckham said on Instagram of his friend who was killed in a helicopter crash near Los Angeles along with his daughter Gianna and seven other people.
“This was one special athlete, husband, father and friend. Having to write these words is hard enough but also knowing we have lost an amazing human being and his beautiful and talented daughter Gianna is heartbreaking.
“The commitment Kobe showed to his sport was inspiring, to go through the pain and to finish a game off like only he could inspired me to try to be better. Sometimes I would only go to games just to watch that clock go down to the last 2:00 minutes knowing that we were about to witness something special.
“Kobe always talked about Vanessa and his beautiful girls and how proud he was of them. Kobe’s passion was his family and basketball. He was determined to inspire the next generation of boys and girls to embrace the sport that he loved. His legacy will live on.
“My family’s love and prayers go out to Vanessa and the girls, to Kobe’s basketball family, and of course to the families of those who were tragically lost with him yesterday.”
Lakers superfan Jack Nicholson said he was heartbroken over the loss of friend Bryant.
“My reaction is the same as almost all of LA,” the 82-year-old actor told CBS Los Angeles.
“Where we think everything’s solid, there’s a big hole in the wall. I was used to seeing and talking to Kobe that … it kills you. It’s just a terrible event.“
In memory of Kobe Bryant🚀
— Kirabo Links (@Kirabolinks) January 27, 2020
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Rest in Power#kobebryant#kirabolinks#GiftedEra pic.twitter.com/W1TLWz9ITy
The Oscar winner recalled meeting Bryant at Madison Square Garden in New York.
“I teased him the first time we met. I offered him a basketball and asked him if he wanted me to autograph it for him,” the actor joked.
“He looked at me like I was crazy.”
Nicholson was often seen cheering on Bryant from his courtside seats at the Staples Center in LA.
“I sat right behind his jump shot on the left-hand side. I can see him going up and I can tell the first instant if it’s going in,” he said.
“We’ll think of him all the time and we’ll miss him. He was just one of those touched people.”
Meanwhile, singer-songwriter Taylor Swift said Bryant “meant so much to me”.
“My heart is in pieces hearing the news of this unimaginable tragedy. I can’t fathom what the families are going through,” she tweeted.
“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.”
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
Australian NBA export Ben Simmons said the death of Bryant and his daughter had “shaken me to my core”.
You were and will continue to be an inspiration to this world and drive people to follow their dreams with passion and conviction #MambaForever 3/3 pic.twitter.com/PiSHw9Cv5P
— Ben Simmons (@BenSimmons25) January 27, 2020
Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers was in tears when he heard the news.
“The news is just devastating to everybody who knew him. He means a lot to me. He was such a great opponent. It’s what you want in sports. He had that DNA that very few athletes can ever have,” Rivers said.
“Looking at my young players and seeing how emotional they are, and they didn’t even know him. It just tells you how far his reach was.”
After the Clippers’ 112-97 road win against the Orlando Magic, Rivers said Tyronn Lue – an assistant coach at the Clippers who played with Bryant at the Lakers – was “struggling”.
“Ty Lue was really struggling. You forget that Ty Lue was his teammate as well and I look over at Ty during the game and he’s bawling. A lot of emotion tonight, it really was a tough night. Just a tough night,” Rivers said.
US President Donald Trump tweeted, saying it was “terrible news”.
Former US President Barack Obama, who hosted Bryant and the Lakers at the White House following the team’s 2010 NBA Championship, sent prayers to Kobe’s family on this “unthinkable day”.
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
.....Melania and I send our warmest condolences to Vanessa and the wonderful Bryant family. May God be with you all!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 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
Tiger Woods was told of Bryant’s passing by his caddie Joey LaCava coming off the 18th green at Torrey Pines on Sunday at the Farmer’s Insurance Open.
“I didn’t understand why the people in the gallery were saying ‘do it for Mamba’,” Woods said.
“But now I understand. It’s a shocker to everyone. Unbelievably sad and one of the more tragic days.”
DJ and producer Diplo posted on Instagram from the Staples Center – the home of the Los Angeles Lakers and where the Grammy Awards were held yesterday – saying there’s a “sombre mood right now”.
“I’ll be honest it’s a sombre mood right now here at the Staples Center. Never take a moment for granted,” Diplo posted.
Lizzo opened the Grammys with her electric performance by dedicating it to Bryant.
“Tonight is for Kobe” before she poured her heart into a beautiful medley culminating with her hit Truth Hurts.
Host Alicia Keys then addressed the basketballer’s tragic death with her opening monologue and an a cappella gospel performance with Boyz II Men.
Harvey Mason Jr, the interim Recording Academy chief, opened Grammy proceedings with a call for a moment of silence.
“Since we are in his house, I would ask you to join me in a moment of silence,” Mason said.
Madison Square Garden was lit up in the Lakers’ gold and purple colours for the game between the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets.
Nets star Kyrie Irving didn’t play, leaving the arena after hearing of Bryant’s death.
Kim Kardashian’s thoughts were with Bryant’s wife and family.
Australian basketball great Andrew Gaze said he was “devastated” about the news.
“It is incredibly sad, we have lost one of the all time greats,” Gaze told the Herald Sun.
“Words can’t describe how disappointing and emotional it is.
“It is one of those deaths where it takes you by surprise. It is hard to process it all at the moment, it is pretty raw.”
Devastated. #24 #8. â¤ï¸ðŸ™
— Andrew Gaze (@AndrewGaze10) January 26, 2020
Gaze said he met Kobe Bryant early in his career when they were both Adidas representatives.
They travelled for three days on a marketing tour in Australia.
“The thing that sticks out was how incredibly driven he was, he was always competitive,” Gaze said.
“He had this aura about him and incredible skill. His leadership and dominance will be remembered.”
Gaze said Bryant would be remembered for his patriotism playing for the USA.
“One of the things I respect is his desire to play for his country, he won gold medals, world championships, he seemed to flourish in that environment,” Gaze said.
“He really embraced the spirit of the Olympics.”
Brazilian footballer Neymar dedicated his second goal against Lille to Kobe.
Neymar dedicated his goal to Kobe Bryant. 👠pic.twitter.com/owGzHj3MO2
— Troll Football Media (@Troll__Footbal) January 26, 2020
The National Basketball Players Association said: “This is a monumental loss for the entire basketball community and our hearts are quite simply broken.”
Michael Jordan said Bryant was “like a little brother” to him.
The six-time NBA champion said in a statement Bryant would be remembered as one of basketball’s greatest players.
“I am in shock over the tragic news of Kobe’s and Gianna’s passing,” said Jordan, regarded by many as the greatest basketball player in history.
“Words can’t describe the pain I’m feeling. I loved Kobe – he was like a little brother to me. “We used to talk often and I will miss those conversations very much.
“He was a fierce competitor, one of the greats of the game and a creative force. Kobe was also an amazing dad who loved his family deeply – and took great pride in his daughter’s love for the game of basketball.”
Shaquille O’Neal, Bryant’s former Lakers teammate, posted a moving tribute with photos.
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
Los Angeles Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who tops the list of the NBA’s greatest points-scorers, paid an emotional tribute to Bryant, saying his death was “hard to comprehend”.
“It’s very difficult for me to put in words how I feel about the loss of Kobe Bryant,” Abdul-Jabbar said.
“As a young boy I met him when he was 11 or 12 years old. I was friends with his dad, Joe. We were former adversaries.
“Joe played for the 76ers but he was a good friend and someone that I shared a friendship (with), and it’s hard for me to understand now how this is affecting Joe and his wife.
“So, to Kobe’s family I want to send my most sincere and heartfelt regrets and prayers and my thoughts are with you guys.”
Kobe and I shared so many special conversations about life and basketball. We had so much in common off the court. I used to love talking to him about Lakers basketball, being fathers and husbands and how much we loved Italy. I will miss those conversations and him so much. pic.twitter.com/PIv7obzr2x
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) January 26, 2020
Fellow Lakers legend Magic Johnson, who posted a series of tweets showing images of Bryant throughout the years, said he and his wife Cookie were praying for the star’s family.
“Laker Nation, the game of basketball and ur city, will never be the same without Kobe,” he tweeted.
Johnson said he loved Bryant and “what he stood for on and off the court”.
“Coaching his daughter’s basketball team brought him so much happiness,” Johnson said.
Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic tweeted: “NO PLEASE, I’m shaking this can’t be true please.”
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love said: “Please no. Please God no. It can’t be true.”
Tristan Thompson added: “I hope this isn’t true man!!! Not Kobe.”
Originally published as ‘My idol’: Aussie star’s touching tribute to Kobe Bryant after helicopter tragedy