Kobe Bryant Honored LeBron James in Final Social Media Post Before He Was Killed in Crash (2024)

Kobe Bryant was killed Sunday morning in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California

Kobe Bryant Honored LeBron James in Final Social Media Post Before He Was Killed in Crash (1)

The day before Kobe Bryant tragically died at age 41, the NBA legend honored LeBron James in what would be his final social media post.

Bryant, 41, was the third-leading scorer in NBA history with 33,643 points — but that all changed during James’ game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday.

James, 35, paid tribute to the Los Angeles Lakers legend with special Nike shoes during the game when he surpassed Bryant’s record. Bryant thus became the forth-leading scorer in the NBA at the time of his death.

On Saturday evening, Bryant congratulated James on his latest milestone in what would be his final Twitter and Instagram posts. “On to #2 @kingjames! Keep growing the game and charting the path for the next,” the retired star shared on Instagram.

“Continuing to move the game forward @KingJames. Much respect my brother ?? #33644,” Bryant tweeted.

Bryant, who sat courtside during a handful of Lakers games this season, praised James for coming to Los Angeles and giving the franchise a chance to potentially win its 17th championship.

“When LeBron came to Los Angeles, he is now a Laker, he is part of our brotherhood, part of our fraternity, and we should embrace him that way,” Bryant, 41, recently told the Los Angeles Times. “You got to celebrate… appreciate what he is as an athlete while he is here. Appreciate this guy, celebrate what he’s done because it’s truly remarkable.”

Kobe Bryant Honored LeBron James in Final Social Media Post Before He Was Killed in Crash (2)

Bryant died on Sunday morning in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, a source confirmed to PEOPLE.

Emergency personnel responded but none of the nine people onboard survived, a spokesperson for the LA county sheriff’s office said during a press conference.

Kobe Bryant Honored LeBron James in Final Social Media Post Before He Was Killed in Crash (3)

Spokespersons for Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office and LAPD did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

Bryant is survived by his wife Vanessa, 37, and three of their four children together: daughters Natalia, 17, Bianka, 3, and Capri, 7 months. Their daughter Gianna, 13, was also killed in the plane crash along with her father.

Kobe Bryant Honored LeBron James in Final Social Media Post Before He Was Killed in Crash (2024)

FAQs

What was Kobe's last Instagram post? ›

One year since Kobe Bryant made his last post on Instagram

It is quite heartwarming to see that Kobe's final post on Instagram was him congratulating LeBron James for passing him on the NBA's all-time points list.

What was Kobe Bryant's last tweet? ›

He tweeted, “Continuing to move the game forward @KingJames. Much respect my brother 💪🏾 #33644.” This would ultimately become Bryant's final tweet.

What was the last text Kobe Bryant sent? ›

Kobe Bryant's last text

As it turns out, Bryant's text to Pelinka was a favor for John Altobelli, who was on the helicopter with the NBA legend. According to Pelinka, Bryant had been trying to help secure Altobelli's daughter with a baseball internship.

What did Kobe Bryant do the day before he died? ›

The day before Kobe Bryant tragically died at age 41, the NBA legend honored LeBron James in what would be his final social media post. Bryant, 41, was the third-leading scorer in NBA history with 33,643 points — but that all changed during James' game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday.

Who posted pictures of Kobe Bryant? ›

A Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy who was among the first to arrive at the scene of the January 2020 helicopter crash that took the lives of Lakers star Kobe Bryant, his teenage daughter and seven others testified today in federal court that he snapped 25 pictures on his cell phone at the site, a third of which ...

What age did Kobe quit? ›

Kobe retired on April 13, 2016, at the age of 37 and scoring 60 points against the Utah Jazz, in a game he came from behind and won by himself. He was capable of that and more.

Did Kobe ever apologize? ›

On the same day that the criminal case was dismissed, Bryant issued the following statement through his attorney: First, I want to apologize directly to the young woman involved in this incident. I want to apologize to her for my behavior that night and for the consequences she has suffered in the past year.

What was the last word of Kobe? ›

I'm so sorry I can't be with you tonight.

What did MJ say to Kobe? ›

"And he went down, and Kobe was standing above him, and Michael looked up and said, 'Well everybody in the f— building knew you weren't gonna pass! ' " The comment, of course, poked fun at Bryant's reputation of shooting the ball before choosing to pass to teammates.

Where is Gianna Bryant buried? ›

The burial occurred at Pacific View Memorial Park, which is near the family's home in Orange County. Burial originally was planned for Westwood Village Memorial Park but was changed. Bryant and his daughter, 13, were killed along with seven other people in a helicopter crash Jan. 26 near Calabasas, California.

Did Kobe Bryant say Mamba out? ›

Kobe Bryant Farewell Speech - "Mamba Out."

What was Kobe Bryant's favorite color? ›

Despite his history with Boston, the Black Mamba also revealed that his favorite color is not the purple and gold he's rocked for the entirety of his career, but has always been green.

When did Kobe wake up? ›

Over the years, Kobe kept doing it. He kept waking up at 4 a.m. to get his workout, day in and day out. He never stopped.

What happened to Kobe Bryant on Instagram? ›

Recently, Instagram decided it was time to memorialize Bryant's account, one that had racked up nearly 21 million followers. Memorializing an account is something Instagram does when someone deemed of public interest passes away, and it changes the account in several ways.

When was Kobe's last? ›

On April 13, 2016 Kobe Bryant capped off his legendary career with 60 points in a win vs the Jazz!

What does Kobe mean in Japanese? ›

The name Kobe is of Japanese origin, and is a shortened version of the name “Kobayashi,” which means “little forest.” Kobe is a city in Japan, and is best known for its picturesque harbor and high-quality beef.

What happened to Kobe in 2014? ›

Bryant barely took the floor in 2013-14 due to his recovery from a torn left Achilles tendon and, just six games into his December return, a fracture of the lateral tibial plateau of his left knee that ultimately put him out for the rest of the season.

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