Australian Open stars pay tribute to Kobe Bryant after NBA legend's tragic death

A host of Australian Open stars have paid tribute to sporting icon Kobe Bryant after he was tragically killed in a helicopter crash on Sunday night.

All nine passengers, including the NBA legend’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna, passed away.

Bryant had a huge impact on sports stars around the world, not just in his beloved sport of basketball.

His loyalty, spending 20 years with the same franchise, the Los Angeles Lakers, is almost unheard of in NBA history.

And he made the ultimate impression on everybody he came across from all walks of life.

A large number of supporters at the Australian Open donned ‘Bryant 24’ jerseys on Monday in homage of the 41-year-old.

Stefanos Tsitsipas tweeted a picture of the five-time NBA champion with two heart emojis.

And Denis Shapovalov wrote: “Can’t believe what I’m hearing. RIP”

World No 2 Karolina Pliskova wrote: “One of the greatest sportmen of our lifetime. RIP.”

Two-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka said: RIP LEGEND! #kobebryant.

Maria Sharapova added: Kobe and Gigi, this is incredibly difficult to process. I will never forget your generosity, and the time you set aside in some of my difficult moments.

“I am forever grateful. My heart is with you and your beautiful family.

American Sloane Stephens was also deeply distressed, saying: “I truly can’t believe this. My heart is so heavy. Rest in peach Kobe. What an unimaginable loss. All of my prayers to your loved ones.

Gabrine Muguruza added: “Live life to the fullest. RIP #KobeBryant.”

The news eerily comes just 48 hours after Novak Djokovic paid tribute to Bryant.

“Kobe has been one of my mentors,” Djokovic said. “I’ve had several phone conversations with him and also of course when we see each other live in the past couple of years.

“When I was going through the injury with my elbow and struggling to mentally and emotionally handle all of these different things that were happening to me and dropping in the rankings and then having to work my way up, he was one of the people who was really there for me to give me some very valuable advice and guidelines to kind of believe and trust in myself, trust the process that I’ll be back.

“I’m very grateful to him for being there for me, for being very supportive. I love Kobe, who doesn’t?

“He’s an amazing guy and one of the best basketball players and athletes of all-time.”

And after the death was announced Djokovic wife Jelena wrote: “My God. How Life unfolds… I just learned about @kobebryant death. This is such a tragedy.”

source: express.co.uk