as a long time Celtics fan i have no love of the Lakers. but this goes beyond fandom. Kobe wasn't yet in the HOF, still had another year or so before being eligible. the NBA should waive that and put him in this year. He was a first ballot near unanimous player. of that there never was any doubt. 
no this isn't political but it's news of the today 
Kobe Bryant, 41, killed in helicopter crash
https://www.yahoo.com/sports/reports...194537553.html
Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, Sunday morning, 
Yahoo Sports confirmed.  His daughter, Gianna, was also on board as was another player and  parent en route to a travel basketball game, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski  reported.
  Bryant played his entire 20-year career for the 
Los Angeles Lakers and won five NBA championships prior to retiring in 2016. He was named Finals MVP twice and league MVP in 2008. Bryant was 41.
   #Update Downed aircraft is a helicopter. Flames extinguished. #Malibu deputies at crash site looking for survivors, 4200 blk Las Virgenes Rd #Calabasas #LASD pic.twitter.com/eixLhGhLyE
— LA County Sheriffs (@LASDHQ)    January 26, 2020  
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department responded to reports of a helicopter that crashed into a hillside and caught fire, 
NBC Los Angeles reported.  The crash was called in at 9:47 a.m. local time, per the report, and  flames that spread a quarter acre were put out by 10:30. The fire  department reported no survivors.
  
The helicopter, a Sikorsky S-76, crashed under unknown circumstances with five people on board, 
according to the Federal Aviation Administration.  An investigation is ongoing. CNN’s transportation expert said the  flight data shows the helicopter tightly circling downtown Los Angeles  before heading out to Calabasas. Eric Leonard of NBC Los Angeles shared  the radar track on Twitter.
        Bryant and his wife, Vanessa, have four daughters: Gianna, Natalia, Bianca and Capri, who was born in June 2019.
                          TMZ first reported 
the news.
   
Kobe’s daughter, Gianna, reportedly on board
  Gianna Bryant, Kobe’s 13-year-old daughter, was one of the four  passengers killed in the crash, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported.
   Sources: Kobe Bryant was on his way to a travel basketball game  with his daughter Gianna when the helicopter crashed. Those aboard the  helicopter also included another player and parent.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn)    January 26, 2020  
Gianna is 
also a basketball player and  coached by her dad. He credited her with getting him back into watching  the game and they’ve been seen courtside and NBA and WNBA games over  the past few months.