A mural of Kobe and Gianna Bryant, created by Eric Meidenbauer, outside of Candid Worldwide at 4795 Nevso Drive in Las Vegas on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
A mural featuring Kobe Bryant, created by Eric Meidenbauer, outside of Candid Worldwide at 4795 Nevso Drive in Las Vegas on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Attendees listen to stories about the impact Kobe Bryant had on his fans lives during a vigil for Bryant and daughter Gianna who were killed in a helicopter crash outside Los Angeles Sunday. Photo taken on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020, at UNLV, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto
Attendees listen to stories about the impact Kobe Bryant had on his fans lives during a vigil for Bryant and daughter Gianna who were killed in a helicopter crash outside Los Angeles Sunday. Photo taken on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020, at UNLV, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto
Attendees listen to stories about the impact Kobe Bryant had on his fans lives during a vigil for Bryant and daughter Gianna who were killed in a helicopter crash outside Los Angeles Sunday. Photo taken on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020, at UNLV, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto
Fans hold balloons with Los Angeles Laker colors during a vigil for Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna who were killed in a helicopter crash outside Los Angeles Sunday. Photo taken on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020, at UNLV, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto
Attendees tell stories about the impact Kobe Bryant had on their lives during a vigil for Bryant and daughter Gianna who were killed in a helicopter crash outside Los Angeles Sunday. Photo taken on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020, at UNLV, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto
Attendees listen to stories about the impact Kobe Bryant had on his fans lives during a vigil for Bryant and daughter Gianna who were killed in a helicopter crash outside Los Angeles Sunday. Photo taken on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020, at UNLV, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto
Fans get ready to release balloons with Los Angeles Laker colors during a vigil for Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna who were killed in a helicopter crash outside Los Angeles Sunday. Photo taken on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020, at UNLV, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto
The Strat displays a memorial on their marquee to Kobe Bryant following his surprise death due to a helicopter crash on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images
The Strat displays a memorial on their marquee to Kobe Bryant following his surprise death due to a helicopter crash on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images
The Inspire Bar Lounge Nightclub displays a memorial on their marquee to Kobe Bryant following his surprise death due to a helicopter crash on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images
The Inspire Bar Lounge Nightclub displays a memorial on their marquee to Kobe Bryant following his surprise death due to a helicopter crash on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images
The Inspire Bar Lounge Nightclub displays a memorial on their marquee to Kobe Bryant following his surprise death due to a helicopter crash on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images
It was one year ago — Jan. 26 — when not only the sports world was turned upside-down, but much of the nation.
Just months before pandemic and coronavirus became regular staples in America’s lexicon, Kobe Bryant was killed in an early Sunday morning helicopter crash in Calabasas, California.
The former NBA star, who retired in 2016 after a 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, died along with his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven others in the crash.
