Reports have indicated that the basketball star was aboard a helicopter with four others which crashed in Calabasas, California, on Sunday.

The whole football fraternity and lovers of the NBA have been thrown into the state of mourning following reports of the demise of former US basketball superstar Kobe Bryant. The Los Angeles Lakers legend, 41, is believed to have been on board a private helicopter which crashed in Calabasas, California, on Sunday.

According to the official statement by the  Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the five-time NBA Championship winner was traveling with eight other people including the pilot. Per the report, that the crash occurred a little before 10 a.m. near Las Virgenes Road, south of Agoura Road. There were no surviors.

Per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Kobe Bryant was with his daughter Gianna Bryant on the helicopter prior to the crash:

Having played his entire career with the Los Angelese Lakers, Bryant successfully made his way into the NBA's Hall of Fame by winning five championships with the side. Often regarded as one of the greatest to have ever played the sport, he ended his career in 2016 as an 18-time All-Star.

A great inspiration and role model to many in and out of basketball, Kobe Bryant also had a soft spot for soccer. The former Lakers star is known to have divided loyalties between La Liga giants Barcelona and Serie A club AC Milan.

His reported demise has cast a dark cloud on the whole sport industry and tributes from notable football stars have since poured in on social media.