The Gold Coast Basketball community is in disbelief following the death of great Kobe Bryant

The Gold Coast basketball community has linked arms with the world as the sport of basketball struggles to come to terms with the loss of all-time great, Kobe Bryant.

THE Gold Coast basketball community has linked arms with the world as the sport of basketball struggles to come to terms with the loss of all-time great, Kobe Bryant.

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Bryant, 41, and his daughter Gianna, 13, were among nine to be killed in a helicopter crash in California on Monday morning, Australian time.

A man pays respects at a mural of Kobe Bryant in an alley in downtown Los Angeles after word of the Lakers star's death in a helicopter crash, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Matt Hartman)

The Lakers’ legend, who visited Melbourne in March 2019 for his The Mamba Mentality Experience show, is admired by many current Gold Coast basketball stars including Gold Coast Rollers sharpshooter Jackie Luna-Castro who labels Bryant as her basketball idol based on his approach to “basketball, business, and life.”

North Gold Coast basketball general manager and former NBL athlete Dwayne Vale said that the Gold Coast basketball community was continuing to mourn the loss of one of the games’ greats.

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“Basketball lost a great one in Kobe Bryant,” he said.

“Not only was he a championship winner, multiple MVP winner and a two time Olympic Gold medal winner but he was also a human being who leaves behind a wife and a young family: That resinates with any family anywhere in the world.

“It’s incredibly sad that his 13-year-old daughter was also lost on the same day.

“A life taken way too young.

“Kobe will forever have legendary status within Basketball.”

In this Feb. 14, 2016, file photo, Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant (24) hugs his daughter Gianna on the court in warm-ups before first half NBA All-Star Game basketball action in Toronto. Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and several others are dead after their helicopter went down in Southern California on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020. (Mark Blinch/The Canadian Press via AP)

Gold Coast basketball general manager Joel McInnes said that Bryant’s impact on the game would be felt in years to come.

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“Kobe Bryant was the Michael Jordan to those who never saw Michael play through his prime,” she said.

“He had the ability to make you respect him, loathe him and love him.

“He was the rare athlete that took his potential and exceeded it with intelligence and an incredible work ethic.

“The loss felt by this tragedy is immense by the basketball community.

“Many have idolised him and would be devastated.”