Check out a rookie Kobe Bryant of the L.A. Lakers on the court in Vancouver against the Grizzlies in 1997:
"The jumpy and springy rookie Kobe Bryant records one of his best first year games at Vancouver," notes the video of the Jan. 5, 1997 game.聽
, at age 41, in a helicopter crash in Southern California. Also killed was Bryant's 13-year-old daughter, Gianna.
The retired NBA star was on his way to a game at his sports academy when the crash occurred.