Kobe Bryant dead: Shaquille O’Neal mourns Lakers legend’s death in emotional tweet
Kobe Bryant passed away on Sunday at the age of 41.
Kobe Bryant: Fans gather at vigil outside LA Staples Center
Shaquille has spoken out on the untimely death of his former Los Angeles Lakers team-mate Kobe Bryant. The five-time NBA champion died on Sunday afternoon in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California.
Four other passengers on board the aircraft also lost their lives, including Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna.
Bryant’s passing rocked the sporting world, with basketball fans, former players and casual observers of the sport paying tribute to the 41-year-old online.
And shortly after digesting the news of his former colleague’s passing, ‘Shaq’ took to Twitter to pay tribute to his fellow Olympian.
Alongside a collage of pictures of himself and Bryant, O’Neal tweeted: "There’s no words to express the pain Im going through with this tragedy of loosing my neice Gigi & my brother @kobebryant.
“I love u and u will be missed.
“My condolences goes out to the Bryant family and the families of the other passengers on board. IM SICK RIGHT NOW.”
O'Neal's sentiment was echoed by Los Angeles Lakers legend Kareem Abdul Jabbar, a long-time friend of Bryant's father Joe.
He said: "It’s very difficult for me to put into words how I feel about the loss of Kobe Bryant.
There’s no words to express the pain Im going through with this tragedy of loosing my neice Gigi & my brother @kobebryant
“As a young boy, I met him when he was 11 or 12 years old. I was friends with dad Joe; we were former adversaries.
Joe played for the 76ers but he was a good friend and someone I shared a friendship with. And it’s had for me to understand how this if affecting Joe and his wife.
"So to Kobe’s family, I want to send my most sincere and heartfelt regrets and prayers. And my thoughts are with you guys.”
Former President of the United States Barack Obama also shared a message of condolence to the Bryant family, tweeting: "Kobe was a legend on the court and just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act.
"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."
The National Basketball Association have yet to release a statement on Bryant’s death, though the players’ association has
Their statement read: “We are stunned and devastated by the sudden passing of Kobe Bryant.
“Words cannot express his impact on Players, the NBA and the game of basketball.
“This is a monumental loss for the entire basketball community and our hearts are quite simply broken.
“We send love and prayers out to his wife Vanessa and the entire family.”
For the latest news on the tragic passing of the NBA icon, be sure to follow Express Sport's live blog.