Kobe Bryant, the former Los Angeles Lakers star who leapt from high school to the National Basketball Association and became one of the league’s greatest players of all time, died in a helicopter crash outside of Calabasas, Calif., on Sunday. Even in a career that overlapped with dozens of the NBA’s greatest players, from Michael Jordan to LeBron James, Mr. Bryant stood out as a fierce competitor who battled through injury, clashed with teammates and led the Lakers to five championships through force of will.

Source: Wall Street Journal January 26, 2020 22:18 UTC