Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Former PresidentBarack Obamajoined so many others this weekin shock over the deathof retired NBA playerKobe Bryant, who waskilled Sunday morningalong withhis daughter Giannain a helicopter crash in the Los Angeles area.
“Kobe was a legend on the court and just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act,” Obama, 58,tweetedlater Sunday. “To lose Gianna is even more heartbreaking to us as parents.”
“Michelle and I send love and prayers to Vanessa and the entire Bryant family on an unthinkable day,” Obama continued.
Obama’s relationship with Bryant dates back years. Bryant visited Obama (a noted basketball fan) repeatedly in the White House, including in 2015 as Bryant prepared to retire from the L.A. Lakers.
“He and Obama talked at length about the end of the current chapters in their lives,”according toPolitico.
From left: Kobe Bryant talks with former First Lady Michelle Obama during the 2012 Summer Olympics.Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images
A few years earlier, Bryant had picked the brains of some Obama staffers about their digital operation,Politicoreported. And in 2014 he joined a White House effort to encourage people to enroll in the Affordable Care Act’s health care markets after a call from Obama’s chief of staff.
Bryant was also one of the NBA players invited to play basketball with Obama for the president’s 49th birthday, Obama’s brother-in-law, Craig Robinson,said in 2017.
“Kobe was hurt and he came anyway,” Robinson said in an interview at the time.
Bryant’s assessment of Obama’s basketball skills? Hesaid in 2014that Obama could make the Lakers’ roster — “it’s more of a sign of respect of the skill that the president possesses.” Obama reminded Bryant of “a left-handed version of Michael Adams.”
Former President Barack Obama (center) standing next to Kobe Bryant.Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
And in 2016, President Obamaended his last appearanceat the White House Correspondents’ Dinner with a reference to how Bryant had recently concluded his last game with the Lakers.
“Haha!” Bryanttweetedin response.
In 2018, TMZcaught Bryantin D.C. where he said that he had given a “little bit” of advice to the Obamas about transitioning into entertainment. The former first couplesigned a Netflix dealafter leaving the White House. Bryantwon an Oscar in 2018for his animated short,Dear Basketball.
source: people.com
