- Former Los Angeles Lakers teammates Sun Yue, Yi Jianlian and Jeremy Lin lead the tributes of celebrities and fans
- NBA legend’s death dominates social media ahead of deadly coronavirus
The death of Kobe Bryant in a helicopter crash, aged 41, on Sunday has been felt around the world, including China, where the former Los Angeles Lakers star was among the most popular athletes.
Bryant's death was the top search term on China's Twitter-like Weibo platform on Monday morning, with over 13.5 million searches and rising quickly. That was more than double the 5.52 million of the next most-searched term for confirmed cases of the China coronavirus.
Two more searches related to Bryant were also in the top five. LeBron James' reaction to the news was as searched as the coronavirus, while the death of Bryant's daughter Gigi, who was among the nine who died in the crash, was also over 5 million.
Thousands of Chinese fans had posted Weibo tributes to NBA legend Bryant, with many contributing to Weibo's online book of condolence. Several Chinese celebrities also posted.
Composer Gao Xiaosong posted videos from outside the Staples Centre where fans had gathered to mourn Bryant. Actress Kelly Lin Hsi-lei paid her own tribute.
"I got up early in the morning and saw the news from my friends. I can't believe it. Life is precious but fragile. We must cherish everyone around us! My heart is broken," she wrote.
Chinese musician Wang Feng also recounted his memories of Bryant.
"Incredible and unbelievable! I don't know what to say? If only today was April Fool's Day! I still remember almost two years ago, when he told me that a cartoon about basketball would be made soon. Later the cartoon won an Oscar!" he wrote.
"I dare not imagine this is true, nor the grief of his family! The goodness he passed to this world has already surpassed basketball, and everything he has made the world believe: as long as you firmly believe that, as long as you never stop, the sun at four in the morning will rise for every soul."
Unsurprisingly it was the basketball world that led the tributes. Former teammate Sun Yue, who won the NBA championship with Bryant at the Lakers in 2009, wrote on his Weibo.
"The first time I met you was at the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games. I shouted your name in the crowd and told you that I would be your teammate. You looked back at me and waved at me with a smile," he wrote.
"The first time I played against you was in the Olympic arena. The fledgling me and you, who was already standing at the top of basketball. You let me experience the highest level of basketball.
"After I came to the Lakers, I was lucky to be your teammate. This is the dream of many people. In just one year, I learned a lot of things you should do as a professional player. I benefited for life.
"Every time we met after leaving the Lakers, you were so warm and humble, and you used your personality and charm to make me understand the phrase 'One day Zijin, lifelong Lakers!'" Zijin, which translates to "purple gold" in Mandarin refers to the Lakers trademark uniform.
"It's hard to believe that just a few months ago, we were still remembering that time together," he continued.
"You haven't left, you have influenced a generation with your Mamba spirit, and we will go strong with your spirit! You, always RIP in my heart."
Yi Jianlian, the Chinese Basketball Association record points scorer, was another of Bryant's former teammates. He too paid tribute on Weibo, pointing to Bryant's resilience when the pair faced similar injuries.
"I have rested for a month and a half. You have not rested for a day. Since then I have learned what it means to persist in you," he wrote.
"You said, 'I am not trying to challenge this injury, but I am stuck in it. Call me.' Thank you! Kobe! Hope your father and daughter continue to enjoy basketball in heaven! We will always remember you! Rest in peace to the legend."
View this post on Instagram
RIP Kobe From sharing the same bday to opponents to teammates…respect for everything you did for the game and world. Gone too soon, lifes truly too precious #legend
A post shared by Jeremy Lin 林書豪 (@jlin7) on Jan 26, 2020 at 3:03pm PST
Beijing Ducks star player Jeremy Lin, who played with Bryant at the Lakers and against him during his decade-long NBA career, paid tribute on Instagram.
"RIP Kobe From sharing the same bday to opponents to teammates … respect for everything you did for the game and world. Gone too soon, life's truly too precious #legend."
Bryant has long had a huge following in China, where he maintained a strong presence with an online store and social media pages he updates regularly even after retirement. Most recently, he gave Chinese fans a new year greeting on Weibo. The lunar new year began on Saturday.
Kindred spirit Kobe Bryant's death is China's loss
His popularity in China reached a peak during the Beijing 2008 Olympics where he helped lead his team to win a gold medal.
The star featured in various television programmes and advertisements in China, including his own reality show in 2009, Kobe Mentu. He also launched a charity in China that contributes to sports and education for youngsters.
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