On Sunday, a tragic helicopter crash in Calabasas, California killed all nine people on board, including longtime Los Angelos Lakers star, Kobe Bryant, and his thirteen year old daughter, Gianna. News of Bryant's death quickly flooded social media, and the beloved basketball icon was remembered and honored in millions of posts. Bryant spent 20 seasons with the Lakers, and the team recently participated in their first practice without him. Their first game will occur Friday night against the Portland Trail blazers. Bryant's post NBA life included coaching as well as a peaceful life with his wife, Vanessa and their four daughters.

Since Bryant's death Vanessa has posted on Instagram expressing her grief and thanking the people who have shown her family support. She wrote, "We are also devastated for the families who lost their loved ones on Sunday, and we share in their grief intimately." Vanessa has set up a charity called the MambaOnThree fund to support the other families involved in and affected by this terrible tragedy. In the conclusion of her post Vanessa implores her followers to grant her and the families involved "respect and privacy" to move forward and deal with the tragedy of the death of their loved ones.

Shaquille O'Neal, LeBron James, and Micheal Jordan all expressed their sadness over the death of such a talented player, as well as a good friend. Bryant's death is not only mourned by those close to him, but also by his millions of fans, and the unexpected tragedy reminds us of the important things in life, like family, and making sure the people we love know that we love them. Bryant's impact on the world is undoubtedly legendary, so much so that recent generations have grown up with the phrase, "ballin' like Kobe" ingrained into their culture. The devastating loss of Bryant, his young daughter, and the other passengers on the plane should encourage us to appreciate the moments that we do have, and cherish the people in our lives while we are able to.