The iconic superstar’s tragic death is a seismic loss with his contribution instrumental in raising the sport’s global profileKobe Bryant, who died on Sunday in a helicopter crash in
California at the age of 41, was one of the most accomplished players in league history, an 18-time All-Star, a two-time NBA Finals MVP and the 2007-2008 league MVP. As a member of Team
USA he won gold medals at the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics. His 81 points against the
Toronto Raptors in 2006 is the second-highest single-game total in NBA history. In his final game in 2016 he scored 60 points against the
Utah Jazz, the most of any player in his last contest.
![Basketball legend Kobe Bryant inspired a generation of players](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f3ff4bceb06cec3476c8d367a13d567ce774c50d/53_50_1947_1168/master/1947.jpg?width=1200&height=630&quality=85&auto=format&fit=crop&overlay-align=bottom%2Cleft&overlay-width=100p&overlay-base64=L2ltZy9zdGF0aWMvb3ZlcmxheXMvdGctZGVmYXVsdC5wbmc&enable=upscale&s=d39ce49cdece22c8c7c67ee419eefc53)
Related: Kobe Bryant: NBA legend dies in helicopter crash at age of 41