New Delhi: NBA legend Kobe Bryant’s death in a horrific chopper crash has sent shockwaves across the sporting world. The former Lakers star revolutionized the game of basketball and was much loved by fans all around the globe. Media reports say Lebron James, the next big star after Kobe, was seen was seen in tears after his team's plane landed in California on Sunday. In a video doing the rounds on social media, a visibly upset James is seen hugging people and wiping away his tears while walking towards the airport terminal.

Incidentally, LeBron James surpasses Kobe Bryant for third on the all-time NBA scoring list to be only behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone.

Kobe Bryant's last post on social media had a tweet congratulating James on leapfrogging him.

"Continuing to move the game forward @KingJames," Bryant wrote. "Much respect my brother #33644".


When Kobe Bryant passed Michael Jordan's scoring record in 2014, Jordan texted Bryant congratulating him.

Bryant, 41, died on Sunday when a helicopter he was travelling in crashed and burst into flames in thick fog, killing all nine people on board including his 13-year-old daughter Gianna. The helicopter rammed into a rugged hillside in Calabasas, California.


Los Angeles City Hall was lit in purple and gold beginning at 8:24 p.m. Sunday night, the city's Mayor Eric Garcetti tweeted along with a picture. Garcetti said the building was lit in honor of Kobe Bryant, his daughter and the other victims who died in the helicopter crash.