Thousands of mourners have gathered to pay their respects to one of the best basketball players of all time after he tragically died alongside his daughter in a chopper crash.

Following the sudden passing of 41-year-old NBA legend Kobe Bryant, masses of fans have taken to the surroundings of Los Angeles Staples Center to mourn the loss of the basketball player and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna.

The father and daughter have tragically passed away as their helicopter crashed in Calabasas, California, on Sunday, January 26.

To pay a tribute to the Bryant family, people have taken to the Staples Center cladded in basketball jerseys and caps.

The mourners, who were struck by the sudden death of their beloved sportsman, were also seen assembling in other places and cities including New York’s Madison Square Garden.

Fans also paid a tribute to the 41-year-old NBA legend just outside Thousand Oaks’ Mamba Academy in California where Bryant, who founded the arena, was allegedly on his way to when the crash occurred.

Meanwhile, millions of people, including thousands of prominent figures, politicians, and celebrities, have taken to social media to pay their respects to Mr. Bryant and his daughter.

“It’s another guy that I looked up to when I was in grade school and high school. Seeing him come straight out of high school, he is someone that I used as inspiration,” Lakers’ LeBron James said in his tribute.

“It was like, wow. Seeing a kid, 17 years old, come into the NBA and trying to make an impact on a franchise, I used it as motivation.

“He helped me before he even knew of me because of what he was able to do. So, just to be able to, at this point of my career, to share the same jersey that he wore, be with this historical franchise and just represent the purple and gold, it’s very humbling.”

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