Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant has died in a helicopter crash at the age of 41, according to reports.
American news outlet TMZ reported that Bryant was involved in a crash in Calabasas, a city in California, around 10am local time.
When contacted by Omnisport, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department confirmed five people had died and that there were no survivors but did not confirm any identities.
TMZ said eyewitness told how they heard the helicopter's engine stuttering before it went down and a fire broke out, with emergency services responding.
Bryant spent 20 years with the Lakers between 1996 and 2016, spending his entire career with the Los Angeles team.
A five-time NBA champion, Bryant was selected with the 13th overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets in the 1996 draft before being traded to the Lakers.
Bryant also made 18 All-Star teams, featuring in 17 successive selections between 2000 and 2016, while he was a two-time Olympic gold medallist.
The Lakers famously retired both of Bryant's jerseys – the numbers eight and 24 – making him the only player in the team's history to receive that honour.
A news conference was announced for 2pm local time, with the County Sheriff's Department announcing on Twitter: "Chief Osby & other authorities will provide details on the tragic helicopter crash that occurred this morning in #Calabasas."
A statement from the City of Calabasas, released on its Twitter page, said: "It is with great sadness that we learn of the death of Kobe Bryant and four others in a helicopter crash in Calabasas.
"The aircraft went down in a remote field off Las Virgenes around 10:00 this morning. Nobody on the ground was hurt. The FAA and NTSB are investigating."
