Leading sports stars, celebrities and politicians have been paying tribute to the US basketball star Kobe Bryant, who died when his helicopter crashed in California yesterday.
His 13-year-old daughter Gianna was also among the dead. Kobe Bryant was 41 years old, and one of the most celebrated athletes in American history.
His longtime teammate for the LA Lakers, Shaquille O'Neal, said there were no words to express his pain at the loss, and former president Barack Obama said Bryant was a legend on the court.
Crowds at basketball matches across the United States observed a moment of silence to pay tribute to the man many called 'the black Mamba'.
RNZ's correspondent in Los Angeles is Sandro Monetti.
