Kareem Abdul-Jabbar said the death of Kobe Bryant was "hard to comprehend" after the NBA great died in a helicopter crash.

Bryant was one of nine people who lost their lives in the tragedy after a helicopter came down close to the city of Calabasas in Los Angeles County, California.

The Los Angeles Lakers superstar, who retired in 2016 after a stellar career, sits fourth on the NBA's all-time list of points-scorers.

Abdul-Jabbar leads that list, after following a six-year spell at the Milwaukee Bucks with 14 years at the Lakers.

In an emotional statement, Abdul-Jabbar spoke of how he first met Bryant when the future global star was still a child, having known his father, fellow NBA player Joe Bryant.

He hailed Bryant as an inspiration and recalled being witness to Bryant's 81-point game against the Toronto Raptors in 2006.

"It's very difficult for me to put in words how I feel about the loss of Kobe Bryant," said Abdul-Jabbar.

"As a young boy I met him when he was 11 or 12 years old. I was friends with his dad, Joe. We were former adversaries.

"Joe played for the 76ers but he was a good friend and someone that I shared a friendship [with], and it's hard for me to understand now how this is affecting Joe and his wife.

"So, to Kobe's family I want to send my most sincere and heartfelt regrets and prayers and my thoughts are with you guys.

"Kobe was an incredible family man, he loved his wife and daughters. He was an incredible athlete and a leader in a lot of ways.

"He inspired a whole generation of young athletes.

"He was one of the first ones to leave high school and come into the NBA and do so well, dominating the game and becoming one of the best scorers that the Los Angeles Lakers has ever seen.

"I had the privilege of being there when he scored his 81-point game, and it was something that I will always remember as one of the highlights of the things that I have learned and observed in sports.

"Kobe, my thoughts are with you, absolutely, Rest in peace, young man. This loss is just hard to comprehend. Go with God."