 Pouring in as soon as the horrible reports began Shaquille O'Neal who was a teammate of Kobe's tweeted There's no words to express the pain I'm going through with the tragedy of losing my niece Gigi and my brother Kobe Bryant I love you and you will be missed my condolences go out to the Bryant family and the families of the other passengers on board I'm sick right now Pau Gasol also played with Kobe. He wrote beyond devastated my big brother. I can't I just can't believe it NBA legend cream Abdul Jabbar said most people will remember Kobe is the Magnificent athlete who inspired a whole generation of basketball players But I will always remember him as a man who was much more than an athlete and another Lakers great magic Johnson tweeted as I try to Write this post my mind is racing I'm in disbelief and have been crying all morning over this devastating news that Kobe and his young daughter Gigi have passed away in a Helicopter crash cookie, and I are heartbroken reaction is also happening on the court as well Well afternoon games around the league tipped off shortly after the news started coming out the Raptors and Spurs started their game earlier By each taking 24 second violations in honor of number 24 a win Kobe Bryant announced his retirement in 2016 he posted this quote on the home page of his website to quote No hero is perfect, and no villain is completely void of heroic intentions We all live as both what sets the great ones apart is how they use their inner villain to create something epic It's living as a hero villain the hero villain channels fear rejection anger and doubt and turns them into strength courage power and determination Kobe Bryant channeled every possible skill both mental and physical during his incredible basketball career It started at Lower Marion High School