KNOXVILLE — Retired NBA star Kobe Bryant, 41, died Sunday in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, Calif.
Bryant was the 13th overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets. He was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he played his entire 20-year career and winning five NBA championships.
Peyton Manning, former University of Tennessee, Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos’ quarterback, released a statement on Bryant’s passing.
“I am incredibly saddened by the tragic news of Kobe Bryant’s passing,” Manning said in a statement. “I always appreciated Kobe’s talent, work-ethic and competitiveness. Most of all, I appreciated his friendship. He was a friend and we worked together recently on several projects. I was honored to be asked by Kobe to be part of his Detail show and really enjoyed our interactions over the years.
“We retired at the same time and had to make that transition together. I am so shocked and saddened. My prayers are with the Bryant family and the families of everyone involved. I will miss Kobe very much just like so many will. It’s just an incredibly sad day.”