Kobe Bryant, daughter 'Mambacita' died pursuing basketball dream

FILE PHOTO: Jul 27, 2019; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Kobe Bryant is pictured with his daughter Gianna at the WNBA All Star Game at Mandalay Bay Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

(Reuters) - Kobe Bryant called his daughter Gianna "Mambacita" after his own court nickname, "Black Mamba," confident she would follow in his footsteps and become a professional basketball player.

On Sunday, the 41-year-old five-time NBA champion and two-time Olympic gold medallist died with his 13-year-old daughter and seven others in a helicopter crash northwest of Los Angeles as they pursued that dream.