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Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant used a private helicopter to travel around Los Angeles for years, be it to games at the Staples Center or events in the area. Sadly, though, his Sikorsky S-76 crashed near Calabasas on Sunday morning, killing all nine passengers aboard, including his daughter, Gianna.
In a one-on-one interview from years past, Bryant explained why he started using a helicopter as a means of transportation around the Los Angeles area. As you might expect, traffic was one of the driving reasons.
However, Kobe also noted that using a chopper to fly back and forth allotted him more time with his family.
Retired NBA player Rex Chapman shared a clip of the former Lakers star's interview in a tweet on Monday morning. To see the full interview, head over to this link from The Corp With A-Rod and Big Cat.
“Traffic started getting really bad,” Bryant said. “I was sitting in traffic and I wound up missing a school play. This thing just kept mounting. I had to figure out a way how I can still train and focus on the craft, but still not compromise family time.
“That's when I looked into helicopters, and being able to get down and back (from the arena) in 15 minutes,” Bryant went on to say. “That's when it started.”
The story behind why Kobe used a private helicopter in and around Los Angeles…🖤💔🏀🌎🖤 pic.twitter.com/f77OM6CtT8
— Rex Chapman🏇🏼 (@RexChapman) January 27, 2020
Bryant was on his way to Mamba Sports Academy, where he was set to serve as a coach for the young campers. However, the private helicopter crashed along the way, just before 10:00 a.m. ET on Sunday. According to reports, the chopper caught fire and collided with a hillside. The crash, which is still under investigation, ignited a quarter-acre brush fire, which was difficult to extinguish due to levels of magnesium.
Join us in sending condolences to the families involved in this tragic accident.
