It is not very often we have to deal with the loss of someone who made such a lasting and strong impact on so many people as former Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant.

Bryant died Sunday morning in a helicopter accident that killed nine people. 

The news of Bryant’s death shook the sports world in a way that perhaps no death has before. 

We at The Daily Eastern News want to send our condolences to all of the families affected by this tragedy and to anyone who is grieving at this time. 

Bryant was more than just a basketball player, he was the true definition of an international super star. His face, his mantra, and his unrivaled competitive drive were recognizable across the globe. 

Bryant touched the lives of countless teammates, coaches and fans.

Due to his long career in the NBA, his influence was able to reach people across the world and across generations.

As basketball expanded to China and Africa namely, among other countries, Bryant’s name was a lasting influence that will affect people for a long time.

In the NBA itself, Bryant’s influence reached the generation of recently-retired players, veterans in the league and new players in the league.

He played with other great players who recently retired, like Dwyane Wade and Dirk Nowitzki, but he also played with the upcoming generation, like Devin Booker.

It often seems like when an all-time sports great dies, they are usually older in age and have long been gone from the game they played.

With Kobe, though, as with other stars from sports who died when they were still playing, this death really hurts.

It is easier to think about someone’s legacy when they have not played for so long, but because Bryant only retired a few years ago, and because he still had direct connections to the NBA, this death hurts just a little bit more.