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Kobe Bryant meant more to the world than he will ever have known. Bryant's untimely death shocked the world on Sunday afternoon after a helicopter he, his daughter, and seven other people were on, crashed. 

Following the tragic death of the NBA legend, people all over the world took time to show how Bryant impacted them

From teammates like Shaquille O'Neal to leaders like Barack Obama, people across the globe, the majority of them he never even knew, stopped what they were doing, and reflected on what Bryant meant to them. 

Washington D.C. sports icons were taken aback by the heartbreaking news.

Alex Ovechkin was at a loss for words. Dwayne Haskins lost a man that he, as well as many others, idolized.

As cities mourn across the world, purple and gold lights have begun to illuminate the skies, far beyond Los Angeles. 

New York City

Our lights will shine in purple and gold this evening as we pay tribute to basketball legend Kobe Bryant, an inspiration to millions across the globe who was taken too soon. Our hearts go out to all of the families, friends, and fans affected by this tragedy. #824Forever pic.twitter.com/m84TbQ2d3y

— Empire State Building (@EmpireStateBldg) January 27, 2020

Chicago

Purple and gold at the top of the Willis Tower pic.twitter.com/nSNLYjDkyj

— Bulls Talk (@NBCSBulls) January 27, 2020

Hollywood, Florida

Mamba Forever 💛💜 Rest In Peace, Kobe.

📸 I/G [exitheregreg] pic.twitter.com/4fOT1qT9CI

— Seminole Hard Rock (@HardRockHolly) January 27, 2020

Houston

Houston City Hall is lit up tonight to remember Kobe Bryant, former University of Houston baseball player John Altobelli and the rest of the victims in today’s tragedy in California. #RIP pic.twitter.com/EuQfIII3bq

— KHOU 11 News Houston (@KHOU) January 27, 2020

Philadelphia

For Kobe. pic.twitter.com/psHQAdlQZi

— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) January 28, 2020

Manila, Philippines

KOBE 24

📍BGC, Taguig
📸: Uptown Bonifacio pic.twitter.com/2GBXgR8pqk

— ABS-CBN Sports (@abscbnsports) January 27, 2020

Toronto, Ontario

CN Tower lit up in purple and yellow tonight. 💜💛💜💛

📸: @Toronto pic.twitter.com/y68sUAAYlj

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 27, 2020

Kobe Bryant transcended the game of basketball. He, his daughter Gianna, and all of those affected will not be forgotten. 

Click here to download the MyTeams App by NBC Sports. Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream Capitals and Wizards games easily from your device.

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• Farewell, D.C.: Vintage Kobe
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Any Wizards fans looking to watch professional basketball over the summer should circle July 11 on their calendar.

Former Wizards star Gilbert Arenas returns to Capital One Arena on that Saturday, as part of the Enemies of the BIG3.

The BIG3 announced their schedule for the 2020 schedule on Wednesday, and all 12 teams will play in Washington, D.C. during the third week of the season.

The 2020 @thebig3 schedule is out with Gilbert Arenas expected to return to DC for the first time on July 11. pic.twitter.com/B6UG4JyUtD

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) February 19, 2020

Arenas, who joined the league last year as a member of the Enemies squad, did not play in the nation's capital last season. The Enemies did not make playoffs in their first season of the BIG3.

Other former Wizards players in the BIG3 include Rashard Lewis, Drew Gooden, DeShawn Stevenson, and Mike Bibby among others.

The fourth season of the BIG3 kicks off June 20 in Memphis, Tenn.

Click here to download the MyTeams App by NBC Sports. Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream Capitals and Wizards games easily from your device.

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There is an argument, and I've made it before, that John Wall's contract and injury situation combine for one of the biggest roster-building obstacles in NBA history. Never before has a player making as much money as he is suffered an injury as serious as his ruptured left Achilles. He takes up 35% of the salary cap, is not playing this season and has no guarantees of returning to his All-Star form once he comes back.

Even if Wall does return to his prime form, and there's reason to be hopeful he can, his contract includes a lot of money for the Wizards to work around. And that has created a scenario where making small moves count matter even more than they otherwise would.

The Wizards have to maximize all of their other resources, much like the Brooklyn Nets did when they ultimately overcame the disastrous 2014 trade with the Boston Celtics that left them paying a debt of high first-round picks for years. Brooklyn worked around their draft pick blackhole by hitting on late-round selections plus minor signings and trades. And they built a foundation along the way that made them surprising heavyweights in free agency. 

The Wizards have plenty of work to do, but first-year general manager Tommy Sheppard is already proving his worth in peripheral transactions, the types that turned the Nets around. They may be less-heralded acquisitions, but they can also become major separators between GMs.

Sheppard has been running the Wizards front office for less than a calendar year, yet he already has an impressive list of marginal moves. Just recently he turned Isaiah Thomas, who was a glaring detriment on the defensive end, into Jerome Robinson, the 13th overall pick just 20 months ago.

Last offseason, his first as GM, he flipped Aaron White, a former second-round pick who was stashed in Europe, for Davis Bertans, who has become one of the best shooters in the NBA. He also turned cap space into Moe Wagner and Isaac Bonga, two guys with intriguing potential. Wagner, in particular, has emerged as a building block.

There are other minor moves Sheppard has made that stand out as good ones. He may have found something in Garrison Mathews, a rookie on a two-way deal who can light it up from three. Anzejs Pasecniks and Gary Payton II have been nice surprises as end-of-the-roster guys. And signing Ish Smith for less money instead of retaining Tomas Satoransky has proven to be a smart decision.

Sheppard continues to nail the smaller moves but he has also hit on some of the bigger ones. He drafted Rui Hachimura ninth overall in June and he has exceeded expectations thus far. Sheppard also re-signed Bradley Beal to a contract extension in October, a move few saw coming.

What will ultimately write the story of Sheppard's tenure as GM are decisions even bigger than those. There will also be some level of luck between the draft lottery, injuries and other factors.

But the best signs for what the Wizards should hope they get from Sheppard are already there. They need someone who can maximize all roster-building opportunities and work within the tight space of their remaining salary cap.

So far, Sheppard has done just that.