It has been confirmed that NBA legend and five-time champion Kobe Bryant was among those killed in a helicopter crash near Los Angeles on Sunday morning, per widespread reports.

TMZ, who first broke the news, report that the former Lakers superstar was one of five who perished after the helicopter he was in crashed into a hillside above Calabasas, California. The Los Angeles Times adds that the collision sparked a bushfire that made it very difficult for firefighters and other emergency personnel to reach the downed aircraft.

Bryant, who played 20 years in the NBA, spent all of his career with the Lakers, helping them win five championships, including three consecutive title captures from 2000-02 and then back-to-back triumphs in 2009-10. He retired from basketball after recovering from a major Achilles injury, calling curtains on an illustrious career in 2016 and leaving the game as the NBA's third all-time leading scorer with 33,643 points.

As it happens, the mark was only eclipsed on Saturday, less than 24 hours before Bryant's untimely passing, with LeBron James moving ahead of him in a loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Bryant would congratulate James via Twitter after the current Lakers star became the league's third all-time leading scorer. "Continuing to move the game forward @KingJames. Much Respect my brother. #33644," he wrote.

SNY's Chris Williamson tweeted earlier that it was reported that the 41-year-old's four daughters were also killed in the crash but he has respectfully removed the tweet. At this time, we do not know whether they were on board the aircraft too.

This year will be the first year Bryant is eligible for induction into the Hall of Fame, with the class of 2020 set to be announced during All-Star weekend in Chicago on February.

At A Loss For Words...

This is indeed one of the most heartwrenching reports we at TheSportster have ever had to deliver and we are really hoping that Bryant's girls were not involved.

We will have more on this story as it develops but, in the meantime, we would like to wish Bryant's family, his loved ones, and the entire NBA our deepest condolences.

Update: TMZ has since reported that one of Kobe's daughters, 13-year-old Gianna Maria Onore, was also on board the helicopter and has also died. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski has also reported that Bryant was on his way to a basketball game with his daughter, another player and parent.

Update: It's been revealed in an official press conference held by the Los Angeles Fire Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department that nine people were actually on board; no one survived.

R.I.P LEGEND.

Source: TMZ