There are very few things that bring Americans together like sports. And, for the first time in what seems like years, Americans are coming together over the tragic passing of former Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant.
These are just some of the tweets from various singers, politicians, sports stars and other celebrities:
I've never played basketball and yet your impact on my life has been immeasurable, @kobebryant. LEGENDS NEVER DIE. #MambaForever pic.twitter.com/QIZKxI3ebs
— Bianca Gonzalez (@iamsuperbianca) January 26, 2020
A lot of these tributes mention Kobe Bryant’s great sense of humor. I hope this video brings a smile to your face on a devastating day, and reminds us of the many layers and many laughs of one of the greatest athletes of all time.
— Taylor Rooks (@TaylorRooks) January 26, 2020
pic.twitter.com/SRZOWK3D6p
RIP KOBE RIP GIANNA SMH LOST ANOTHER ICON AND WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN ONE. STILL YELLIN KOBE! AFTER EVERY CONTESTED JUMPER #RIPMAMBA ?? #RIPYUNGMAMBA
— THE KID MERO ???? (@THEKIDMERO) January 26, 2020
Damn that hurts... My heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of Kobe and of those who died in the terrible accident. #RIPKobe
— Stefan Frei (@Stefan24Frei) January 26, 2020
Dear Kobe, thank you. ?? pic.twitter.com/HydlIv0zyg
— Gina Holguin (@GeorginaHolguin) January 26, 2020
#RIP Kobe Bryant and his beloved daughter Gianna. Sending prayers for comfort to their family and friends and to the families of all of the victims of this devastating tragedy. pic.twitter.com/YRRixq37kg
— Judge Greg Mathis (@JudgeGregMathis) January 26, 2020
"It is heartbreaking."@deshaunwatson on Kobe Bryant. pic.twitter.com/amNlLIiIvd
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) January 26, 2020
#Kobe was one of the best who ever played the game. Straight from high school to the pros and won championships with #8 & #24. He was teaching his beautiful daughter Gianna how to be a beast on the court. May they both RIP. To their family, our thoughts & prayers are with you! ???? pic.twitter.com/wX7AI8lyCZ
— Charlie Wilson (@CharlieWilson) January 26, 2020
The Raptors and Spurs both took a 24-second shot clock violation to honour the passing of Kobe Bryant ??
— ODDSbible (@ODDSbible) January 26, 2020
pic.twitter.com/irlo3fS6eM
Kobe clearly loved his daughters.
— Ethan J. Skolnick of @5ReasonsSports (@EthanJSkolnick) January 26, 2020
That’s what I related to.
Don’t really care about the basketball stuff.
One thing I learned from watching my daughter fight for her life and something I was reminded of today with the passing of Kobe is..stop thinking you will have tomorrow to do what you were called to do today! Life is too short to waste time ???? Live your life to the fullest!
— Devon Still (@Dev_Still71) January 26, 2020
Every local station in LA has been on the air with nonstop coverage since the news about Kobe Bryant broke. No golf, no pro bowl, no Grammys. His loss is felt worldwide, but flipping around to different stations, it’s hard to overstate what he meant to Los Angeles.
— stan verrett (@stanverrett) January 26, 2020
LeBron being in tears as the Lakers team plane landed back in Los Angeles will rip your heart out pic.twitter.com/jIC7xsM8aM
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) January 26, 2020
My friend, a legend, husband, father, son, brother, Oscar winner and greatest Laker of all-time is gone. It’s hard to accept. Kobe was a leader of our game, a mentor to both male and female players. pic.twitter.com/NXsrXmCkkG
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) January 26, 2020
Michael Jordan on the death of Kobe Bryant:
— NBC News (@NBCNews) January 26, 2020
"Words can't describe the pain I'm feeling. I loved Kobe -- he was like a little brother to me." https://t.co/6qgjdEALLY pic.twitter.com/anuzhOaNvw
To all of my friends, thank you. Each of you have shared part of yourself with me and made my life better. I have tried to do the same. If you were here I would hug you like I just hugged my family. It hurts that it takes a tragedy to remind us of our mortality.#hugyourfriends
— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) January 26, 2020
Even politicians paid their respects to one of the National Basketball Association's greatest players:
Reports are that basketball great Kobe Bryant and three others have been killed in a helicopter crash in California. That is terrible news!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 26, 2020
Rest In Peace Kobe Bryant.
— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) January 26, 2020
Praying for a legend and the other passengers whose lives were lost and their families.
Kobe was a legend on the court and just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act. To lose Gianna is even more heartbreaking to us as parents. Michelle and I send love and prayers to Vanessa and the entire Bryant family on an unthinkable day.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) January 26, 2020
Very very very SAD.
— Hakeem Jeffries (@RepJeffries) January 26, 2020
May God watch over the Bryant family during this devastating time.
Hug your children and loved ones extra tight this evening.
Life is fragile and fleeting ????????????.https://t.co/hvT0qQKS2P
Deeply shocked at the news of Kobe Bryant and four others lost today.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 26, 2020
Sending all my thoughts to their families and loved ones in this devastating moment. https://t.co/1bgEhj2AhA
This is the worst news. Kobe is an all-time great who had his entire life ahead of him. My heart goes out to his family, his fans and the millions of people whose lives he touched. Today Kobe is the greatest of all time. ???? https://t.co/saR4dJ7412
— Andrew Yang?? (@AndrewYang) January 26, 2020
??????? ????? ?? ??????? ??????, ??? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ?????.
— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) January 26, 2020
???? ??????, ?????? ?????????? ?????????, ???? ???? ???????? ???? ??????? ???????????. ????? ????? ????, ????? ?????, ???????? ????? ?????? ?????. ?? ?????. ?? ??? ????? ?? ????? ????? pic.twitter.com/Y5FGI5D6rZ
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) January 26, 2020
I don't have any words, and I'm not going to manufacture any. We can talk about the problem of evil later. But I want to say: I used to watch interviews of Kobe, conducted in Italian. (He did much of his growing up in Italy.) So enjoyable. An athlete for the ages. More later.
— Jay Nordlinger (@jaynordlinger) January 26, 2020