Former United States President Barack Obama took to Twitter on Sunday to offer his condolences to Kobe Bryant's family following news of the death of the Los Angeles Lakers great, as well as his daughter Gianna and three others as the result of a helicopter crash on Sunday morning.
Obama lamented the fact that Bryant's passing comes in the midst of “what would have been just as meaningful a second act.” He also stated that Gianna's death is especially heartbreaking.
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.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) January 26, 2020
Of course, Obama has always been transparent about his love for basketball. He even had the White House tennis court adapted so it could be used as a basketball court, as well.
Bryant became close with Obama, especially throughout his second term in office. The Lakers legend even visited the White House during a trip to Washington in 2015 (via Ben Strauss of Politico):
After announcing his retirement in 2015, Bryant visited the White House on another trip to Washington. He and Obama talked at length about the end of the current chapters in their lives. Bryant would soon be moving on from basketball, Obama from public office. Bryant understood new challenges awaited him and Obama, who understood celebrity as well as anyone on the planet, was someone he could learn from. “In sports, you get better by working in the gym,” Bryant said. “I wanted to know how he got better, from managing his schedule to what he reads. And because he gets sports, and we can talk about that, too, it makes it easier to have that connection.”
As a man that became so dedicated to his daughters and life after basketball, Kobe Bryant proved he had more to offer than merely being an excellent basketball player and a Lakers hero.
His passing has impacted persons all around the world, including Barack Obama.
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