NBA postpone LA Clippers game as Lakers 'deeply grieve' death of Kobe Bryant

Lakers legend, his daughter and seven others killed in helicopter crash on Sunday

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The NBA game between the Los Angeles Lakers and LA Clippers has been postponed as the Lakers and the wider basketball community continues to grieve the loss of Kobe Bryant.

Lakers legend Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven other passengers on Sunday.

LA rivals Lakers and Clippers were scheduled to play each other on Tuesday, but the NBA has taken the decision to move the game to an unspecified later date.

"The National Basketball Association game between the Los Angeles Lakers and LA Clippers scheduled for Tuesday, January 28 at Staples Center has been postponed," the organisation said in a statement released on Monday night.

"The decision was made out of respect for the Lakers organization, which is deeply grieving the tragic loss of Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven other people in a helicopter crash on Sunday."

Bryant, who was 41, spent his entire 20-year NBA career with the Lakers, leading the franchise to five NBA championships and becoming one of the organisation's - and indeed the NBA's - greatest ever players.

Bryant, fourth on the NBA's list of all-time leading points scorer, also won two Olympic gold medals with Team USA at 2008 Beijing and 2012 London.

"The Los Angeles Lakers would like to thank all of you for the tremendous outpouring of support and condolences," the Lakers wrote in a statement in response to the NBA's decision to postpone the game against the Clippers.

"This is a very difficult time for all of us. We continue to support the Bryant family and will share more information as it is available."