As news of Kobe Bryant's death spread on this day five years ago, the sports world went from denial to disbelief to shock and finally acceptance. One of the greatest hoops of all time was gone in an instant.
Bryant received his flowers for his achievements and influence on the court before his death, as recently as his last night on this planet.
On January 25, 2020, LeBron James passed Bryant for the No. 3 spot on the NBA's all-time scoring list. James bestowed the love on Bryant after the game with 'Black Mamba' returning the favor.
A day later, Bryant was among nine killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna also among the victims.
Bryant was 41 years old, less than four years earlier retiring from the NBA after spending his entire career with the Lakers.
Five years since Bryant's passing, and his legacy lives on, knowing that the basketball world would never be the same without him seeing how his contributions would thrive.
Kobe Bryant died five years ago Sunday in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California.
On board the helicopter was Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven others.
Tributes from every part of the sporting world honored the Bryant duo with many in shock
It was at 2:24 ET that the first report of Bryant's death became public. The outlet that reported the news was scolded by local police for going above and beyond to notify all of the victim's families.
However, unfortunately the news was confirmed shortly after. Calls for the NBA to postpone its games were immediate and unsuccessful.
“I think the world actually stopped for a moment,” Elissa Grabow, a former Kobe's assistant, said in the CNN documentary 'Kobe: The Making of a Legend' Via PEOPLE.
College basketball stars who had midday games were wrapping up as the news dried up.
One of those instances saw a Michigan State staff member relay the news to head coach Tom Izzo.
To prepare his biggest star in the 2020 season, Cassius Winston, for a postgame and on-camera interview, Izzo told him with CBS cameras catching Winston's surprised reactionthat went viral on social networks.
“I cried all day, all night,” said former NBA star Tracy McGrady. 'I couldn't believe it…not Kobe…not Kobe.'
A public memorial service for Kobe and Gianna was eloquently celebrated on February 24, and the date combines the Bryant duo's Jersey numbers (2 and 24) honored.
“Kobe had a very, very, very special relationship with my kids,” said sportswriter Scoop Jackson. 'What got me, what was hardest for me, was telling them. Yeah, I've done some tough shit in my life, but that was one of the hardest.'
WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes 'immediately thought of Vanessa' upon hearing the news.
“Because as a father, and as a wife, but as a father, you never think you're going to lose your child,” Swoopes added.
A statue of Bryant was later erected at Crypto.com Arena, where Bryant played his home game
Vanessa Bryant, Kobe's wife and Gianna's mother, spoke at his memorial service in 2020
Bryant was known for his association with Shaquille O'Neal during his time in Los Angeles
Former Lakers head coach Gary Vitti was also asked about Bryant for the documentary.
“I was never supposed to outlive Kobe Bryant, that wasn't the plan,” Vitti said. '…I wasn't going to see him do that, and his daughter. That thing about “time heals all wounds” that's not true. They don't heal.
Vitti added that he saw Bryant “grow” and that in return Bryant “He watched me grow old, and then he was going to watch me enter the next life.
Bryant would surely be one of the biggest cheerleaders for the rise in popularity of women's basketball in recent years.
She was invested in the sport long before Caitlin Clark or Angel Reese were a household name.
No doubt some will pay tribute to Bryant on Sunday with the fifth anniversary as the new unrivaled basketball league takes place.
Bryant was an irreplaceable legend and his loss feels as sad as it did five years ago. The reactions of those across the United States are still being felt today.