Remembering Kobe Bryant: Notre Dame athletes react to Kobe Bryant’s death

NOTRE DAME, Ind. -- Amidst the saddening loss of Kobe Bryant on Sunday after a helicopter crash, many locals and players are reminded of interactions with the basketball legend.

Many Notre Dame players, devastated by the news of legend Kobe Bryant’s death, have made statements and reactions to the loss on Sunday.

Rex Pflueger, Notre Dame Basketball guard, tweeted “My Goat… I love you Kobe, thank you for everything.”

Pflueger also shared an Instagram post that pictures Bryant and Pflueger together, saying, “No word… I love you Kobe thank you for everything.”

Braden Lenzy, Notre Dame Football wide receiver, tweeted multiple photos with Bryant saying, “He was like Superman… Nothing was gonna hurt him.. I can’t believe this.. Prayers to his family.”

Lenzy additionally tweeted, “My inspiration. My role model. At a loss of words.. The hardest worker I’ve ever met. Thanks for the chats we’ve had over the years and helped guide me to this point in my life. RIP to the greatest.”

Notre Dame Football QB Ian Book tweeted, "Life is so fragile!" 

Former Notre Dame Women's Basketball guard, Arike Ogunbowale tweeted, "Wait. No. Wait. Not Kobe. Wow." 

Beyond local athletes, basketball star Dwyane Wade tweeted, “Nooooooooooo God please No!”

Shaquille O'Neal posted a personal message on Instagram, saying "There are no words to express the pain I’m going through now with this tragic and sad moment of losing my neice Gigi & my friend, my brother, my partner in winning championships, my dude and my homie. I love you and you will be missed. My condolences goes out to the Bryant family and the families of the other passengers on board. IM SICK RIGHT NOW!" 

President Donald Trump also gave his condolences, tweeting, “Reports are that basketball great Kobe Bryant... [has] been killed in a helicopter crash in California. That is terrible news!”