WATCH: Investigation on helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant, his daughter and 7 others

Author: Greg Beacham / Associated Press
Published: Updated:
Credit: via WINK News.

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National Transportation Safety Board officials and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office addressed the public regarding investigations into the helicopter crash that killed NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant, baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife Keri Altobelli and their daughter Alyssa Altobelli, basketball coach Christina Mauser, Sarah Chester and her daughter Payton Chester and pilot Ara Zobayan.

NTSB investigators are asking anyone with photos from the time of the crash to share them by emailing witness@ntsb.gov.

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Lakers’ next game postponed after Kobe Bryant’s death

Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James, left, tries to make his move on Philadelphia 76ers' Ben Simmons, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James, left, tries to make his move on Philadelphia 76ers’ Ben Simmons, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

The NBA has postponed the Los Angeles Lakers’ next game against the Clippers on Tuesday night after the deaths of retired superstar Kobe Bryant, his daughter and seven others in a helicopter crash.

The league announced the decision in a statement Monday, saying it “was made out of respect for the Lakers organization.”

Bryant’s helicopter crashed Sunday, and the Lakers learned about it while flying home from an East Coast road trip. LeBron James and several other players appeared to be visibly affected by the news when they got off the plane.

The Lakers organization hasn’t made a public statement about Bryant’s death, choosing to mourn in private. The 16-time NBA champion franchise made grief counselors available to employees Monday after the loss of Bryant, who spent his entire 20-year NBA career with the Lakers.

Fans mourn the loss of Kobe Bryant with makeshift memorials in front of La Live across from Staples Center, home of the Los Angeles Lakers in Los Angeles on Sunday, Jan, 26, 2020. Bryant, the 18-time NBA All-Star who won five championships and became one of the greatest basketball players of his generation during a 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, died in a helicopter crash Sunday. (Keith Birmingham/The Orange County Register via AP)
Fans mourn the loss of Kobe Bryant with makeshift memorials in front of La Live across from Staples Center, home of the Los Angeles Lakers in Los Angeles on Sunday, Jan, 26, 2020. Bryant, the 18-time NBA All-Star who won five championships and became one of the greatest basketball players of his generation during a 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, died in a helicopter crash Sunday. (Keith Birmingham/The Orange County Register via AP)

Lakers owner Jeanie Buss was quite close to Bryant, and Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka was Bryant’s agent during his playing career.

Dwight Howard is the only current Lakers player who played with Bryant for the franchise for one season back in 2012-13, but the players all knew him. James and Bryant teamed up on the U.S. Olympic teams in 2008 and 2012, and Anthony Davis played a backup role on that 2012 London Olympics team.

Bryant had attended a handful of Lakers games in recent years with his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, who also died in the crash in Calabasas, California.

The NBA says the game between the Los Angeles rivals will be rescheduled later.

The next game on the Lakers’ schedule is Friday night at home against Portland.

The Lakers lead the Western Conference standings and have the NBA’s second-best record at 36-10. After trading for Davis and teaming him with James in the offseason, the Lakers are all but certain to end their franchise-record playoff drought at six seasons.

Bryant won five championships and reached seven NBA Finals during his two decades with the Lakers. He retired as the third-leading scorer in NBA history, and he held the mark until James passed him on Saturday night in Philadelphia.

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