There aren’t many sports stars whose death sends the world into shock and who are mourned by everybody from presidents to pop stars and Tinseltown to the tennis courts of Melbourne.
But then, precious few personalities have the lustre and lengthy cv of achievements mustered by Kobe Bryant, the former NBA basketball luminary, who died, aged 41, along with eight other victims, including his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, in a grievous helicopter crash on Sunday.
Bryant was a phenomenon, now eternally linked to the Los Angeles Lakers, with whom he signed his first contract when he was only 17.
After winning five NBA championships and a Most Valuable Player (MVP) award later, he retired with the third-highest total of points in league history, all of 33,643.
But he was about a lot more than just statistics after joining the Lakers at a time when they had also acquired the league’s top star, the 7ft 1in centre Shaquille O’Neal.
The duo were instrumental in their team winning three consecutive titles – in 2000, 2001 and 2002 – and that ensured superstar status for both Bryant and O’Neal, who became legends among their fanbase.
His profile was enhanced even further on the global stage by his pyrotechnics at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, where he was at the height of his powers and produced a series of magnificent displays which led the USA to the gold medal.
After his playing days, he looked after his substantial business interests and led many charitable activities, including establishing a fund for young people in China.
He wrote and narrated an adaptation of his work, Dear Basketball, for a short animated film – and, typically, poured himself into the project with sufficient verve and imagination that he ended up winning an Academy Award for his efforts in 2018.
Former president Barack Obama led the tributes, saying Bryant “was a legend on the court and just getting started on what would have been as meaningful a second act”.
In a post on Instagram, Scottish tennis champion, Andy Murray, wrote: “This has hit me hard. Thinking of all his family, friends and colleagues.”
He was not alone. As the news spread, the likes of President Trump, Michael Jordan, Will Ferrell, Usain Bolt, Tom Brady, Rihanna, Whoopi Goldberg and Tiger Woods were among the countless people to pay their respects to this MVP of his pursuit.
He is survived by his wife Vanessa Laine and his daughters Natalia, Bianka and Capri.
