The NBA world received devastating news on Sunday as it was confirmed by NBC News that Kobe Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash Sunday in Calabasas, Calif.
The news came as a shock to all those who saw the Los Angeles Lakers legend's name mentioned as one of the five deaths in the crash.
A number of sports figures, including several Boston athletes, took to Twitter to share their reactions and disbelief.
Someone please tell me this Kobe news ain’t real
— Enes Kanter (@EnesKanter) January 26, 2020
This is not real right now
— Paul Pierce (@paulpierce34) January 26, 2020
I refuse to 💔
— Robert Williams (@rob_williamsIII) January 26, 2020
Nooooooo cmon someone say it ain’t true... I’m sick to my stomach right now
— Jayson Tatum (@jaytatum0) January 26, 2020
Lord tell me it’s not true plz plz plz tell me it’s fake.
— Grant Williams (@Grant2Will) January 26, 2020
Please God no...
— marcus smart (@smart_MS3) January 26, 2020
R.I.P Legend 😔
— Enes Kanter (@EnesKanter) January 26, 2020
Prayers up 🙏 💔 pic.twitter.com/oUAgvA1DXp
RIP Kobe Bryant 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/ktPu0YjDPr
— Daniel Theis (@dtheis10) January 26, 2020
Today is a sad day. RIP Kobe.🙏🏿🙏🏿
— Duron Harmon (@dharm32) January 26, 2020
We miss you already Kobe ❤️❤️🙏🏼🙏🏼
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) January 26, 2020
🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿
— Devin&Jason McCourty (@McCourtyTwins) January 26, 2020
RIP to the legend. Terrible terrible news. Thoughts are with the family. #MambaForever pic.twitter.com/dd1FMyKqQ7
— Julian Edelman (@Edelman11) January 26, 2020
When you are identified by all by your first name, you are rare in terms of fame. Kobe certainly was in this very select group.
— Charlie Weis (@charlieweissr) January 26, 2020
RIP Kobe! You are gone, but will never be forgotten. Prayers to your family and friends.
Damn. RIP Mamba. May your memory be a blessing
— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) January 26, 2020
No way...
— Elhadji T Fall (@tackofall99) January 26, 2020
Complete Sadness.....
— doc rivers (@DocRivers) January 26, 2020
I’m heart broken. Totally heart broken.
— Cedric Maxwell (@cedricmaxwell81) January 26, 2020
Everyone in #Boston is draped in purple & gold today for #Kobe.
Prayers To the Bryant family, the #Lakers family and the entire #NBA community.
God bless. #RIPMAMBA #RIPKobeBryant #RIPKobe pic.twitter.com/raC0UcuIu0
Janet and I have no words to describe our shock and sadness on the tragic passing of Kobe Bryant today. Praying for him and his family. 🙏
— Wayne Gretzky (@WayneGretzky) 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!!!!
— Joel “Do a 180” Embiid??? (@JoelEmbiid) January 26, 2020
RIP LEGEND
No way ?!?! 😱
— Vincent Poirier (@viinze_17P) January 26, 2020
Speechless.
— Jon Lester (@JLester34) January 26, 2020
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7y6cQVBa89/?igshid=osbwmmu83ps6
Bryant was 41. Rest in peace to one of the greatest athletes and ambassadors the world has ever seen.