Magic Johnson said the "greatest Laker of all time is gone"

Magic Johnson said the "greatest Laker of all time is gone" as the Hall of Famer mourned the tragic death of Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant.Bryant and his ☎️ year-old daughter Gianna,known as Gigi, died following a helicopter crash in Calabasas, Calif., on Sunday, NBA commi sioner Adam Silver confirmed.A five-time NBA champion with the Lakers the league's ☎️ MVP, Bryant is regarded as one of the all-time greats following ☎️ years in Los Angeles, where the ☎️ year-old has two jerseys retired at Staples Center.Johnson, another Lakers great and five-time champion, paid tribute to Bryant, who was drafted by the storied Los Angeles franchise in ☎️ MORE: My friend, a legend, husband, father, son, brother, Oscar winner and greatest Laker of all-time is gone Brian Goodwin Jersey . Its hard to accept. Kobe was a leader of our game, a mentor to both male and female players. Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) "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 pa sed away in a helicopter crash. Johnson's wife Cookie and I are heartbroken," Johnson Andrew Heaney Jersey wrote. "I love him, his family and what he stood for on the court and off the court."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."He gave his knowledge, time, and talent to tutor so many at the youth level, collegiate level, andNBA andWNBA players. Words can't expre s the impact that he had on the game of basketball. I know basketball fans all over the world will mi s him, especially the city of Los Angeles."He was such an icon but also did so much for LA. He was pa sionate about serving the homele s and was an advocate for women's basketball. Coaching his daughter's basketball team brought him so much happine s.Kobe and I shared so many special conversations about life and basketball. We had so much in common off the court. I used to love talking Trevor Cahill Jersey to him about Lakers basketball, being fathers and husbands and how much we loved Italy. I will mi s those conversations and him so much. Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) "Kobe and I shared so many special conversations about life and basketball. We had so much in common off the court. I used to love talking to him about Lakers basketball, being fathers and husbands and how much we loved Italy. I will mi s those conversations and him so Fred Lynn Jersey much."Laker Nation, the game of basketball andour city, will never be the same without Kobe. Cookie andI are praying for Bryant's wife Vane sa, his beautiful daughters Natalia, Bianka andCapri, as well as his parents Joe andPam andhis sisters."We will always be here for the Bryant family. We love you forever. # ☎️ # ☎️ "My family and I send our condolences to Kobe's family, our hearts are broken."-Larry Bird Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) Johnson's on-court rival Larry Bird also paid tribute to Bryant in a statement released through the Indiana Pacers."I know we will all be struggling to find the words to expre s our sense of deep sorrow and tragic lo s of losing Kobe and his daughter, Gianna," Boston Celtics icon Bird said."Kobe was not only an icon in the sports arena, he was a man of the world and touched so many lives and communities in the most positive ways."His star was continuing to rise every day and he knew no limits because of his many intellectual and creative talents and desire to give back to others - his pa sion Blank Jersey for the game, for his family and for others was apparent in everything he accomplished."My family and I send our condolences to Kobe's family, our hearts are broken."