• LA Lakers NBA player Kobe Bryant (C) poses for group photo after a training session at the Gems American Academy in Abu Dhabi on September, 26, 2013. Bryant arrived for a Health and Fitness Weekend, to promote awareness of diabetes in the United Arab Emirates in his first trip to a Middle East country. AFP
    LA Lakers NBA player Kobe Bryant (C) poses for group photo after a training session at the Gems American Academy in Abu Dhabi on September, 26, 2013. Bryant arrived for a Health and Fitness Weekend, to promote awareness of diabetes in the United Arab Emirates in his first trip to a Middle East country. AFP
  • LA Lakers NBA player Kobe Bryant (R) leads a training session at the Gems American Academy in Abu Dhabi on September, 26, 2013. AFP
    LA Lakers NBA player Kobe Bryant (R) leads a training session at the Gems American Academy in Abu Dhabi on September, 26, 2013. AFP
  • LA Lakers NBA player Kobe Bryant salutes the crowd as he arrives to American University of Dubai basketball court to coach a team made up of local celebrities on September, 27, 2013. AFP
    LA Lakers NBA player Kobe Bryant salutes the crowd as he arrives to American University of Dubai basketball court to coach a team made up of local celebrities on September, 27, 2013. AFP
  • LA Lakers NBA player Kobe Bryant gestures as he coaches a team made up of United Arab Emirates celebrities at the American University of Dubai September, 27, 2013. AFP
    LA Lakers NBA player Kobe Bryant gestures as he coaches a team made up of United Arab Emirates celebrities at the American University of Dubai September, 27, 2013. AFP
  • LA Lakers NBA player Kobe Bryant (C) leads a training session at the Gems American Academy in Abu Dhabi on September, 26, 2013. AFP
    LA Lakers NBA player Kobe Bryant (C) leads a training session at the Gems American Academy in Abu Dhabi on September, 26, 2013. AFP
  • LA Lakers NBA player Kobe Bryant (R) leads a training session at the Gems American Academy in Abu Dhabi on September, 26, 2013. AFP
    LA Lakers NBA player Kobe Bryant (R) leads a training session at the Gems American Academy in Abu Dhabi on September, 26, 2013. AFP
  • LA Lakers NBA player Kobe Bryant (R) gives advises to a 10-year-old student during a training session at Gems American Academy in Abu Dhabi September, 26, 2013. AFP
    LA Lakers NBA player Kobe Bryant (R) gives advises to a 10-year-old student during a training session at Gems American Academy in Abu Dhabi September, 26, 2013. AFP
  • LA Lakers NBA player Kobe Bryant speaks to his players as he coaches a team made up of United Arab Emirates celebrities at the American University of Dubai September, 27, 2013. AFP
    LA Lakers NBA player Kobe Bryant speaks to his players as he coaches a team made up of United Arab Emirates celebrities at the American University of Dubai September, 27, 2013. AFP
  • LA Lakers NBA player Kobe Bryant follows the game as he coaches a team made up of United Arab Emirates celebrities at the American University of Dubai September, 27, 2013. AFP
    LA Lakers NBA player Kobe Bryant follows the game as he coaches a team made up of United Arab Emirates celebrities at the American University of Dubai September, 27, 2013. AFP
  • Students of Gems American Academy in Abu Dhabi looks at LA Lakers NBA basketball player Kobe Bryant (C) during a training session on September, 26, 2013. AFP
    Students of Gems American Academy in Abu Dhabi looks at LA Lakers NBA basketball player Kobe Bryant (C) during a training session on September, 26, 2013. AFP
  • LA Lakers NBA player Kobe Bryant salutes the crowds as he arrives to American University of Dubai basketball court to coach a team made up of local celebrities on September, 27, 2013. AFP
    LA Lakers NBA player Kobe Bryant salutes the crowds as he arrives to American University of Dubai basketball court to coach a team made up of local celebrities on September, 27, 2013. AFP

'Heroes come and go, but legends are forever': Sheikh Hamdan pays tribute to Kobe Bryant who has died aged 41

The Dubai Crown Prince said former Los Angeles Lakers point guard 'carried an inspirational message to our youth'

Steve Luckings
Steve Luckings
Abu Dhabi

January 27, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed has paid tribute to NBA legend Kobe Bryant who was killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California on Sunday morning.

The former Los Angeles Lakers point guard, widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, was one of nine people on board along with his daughter Gianna, 13, when it went down and a fire broke out. There were no survivors, local police said.

The Crown Prince of Dubai tweeted: "You carried an inspirational message to our youth in Dubai and helped them accomplish their dreams.

“Heroes come and go, but legends are forever” Kobe Bryant.

UAE basketball fans may well remember Bryant's trip to the country in September 2013.

Bryant visited schools in Abu Dhabi and Dubai to take coaching clinics and attend basketball matches to promote Kobe Bryant Health and Fitness Weekend.

Thousands of mourners gathered near the Staples Centre in Los Angeles to pay tribute to the basketball legend, a five-time NBA champion and two-time Olympic gold medallist with the USA.

NBADubaiAbu DhabiCalifornia