NBA legend Kobe Bryant killed in Los Angeles helicopter crash

Basketball superstar Kobe Bryant has reportedly been killed in a private helicopter crash in Los Angeles.

Police have confirmed a helicopter crash in Calabasas and say there are five people confirmed dead.

ABC News and TMZ is reporting that Bryant - one of the biggest names in the sporting world - is among those killed in the crash.

Bryant was travelling with four other people in his private helicopter when it crashed, killing everyone on board.

TMZ said a fire broke out on board the helicopter, causing the tragic accident.

Officials with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department responded to reports of the crash near Las Virgenes Rd and Willow Glen St in Calabasas at around 10am Sunday (local time) after a fire broke out.

The cause of the crash is under investigation. It is unclear where the chopper departed from or where it was headed when it went down.

The Los Angeles Lakers superstar, 41, is a father of four.

The 18-time NBA All-Star spent his entire 20-year career with the Lakers, winning five NBA championships.

He was the first guard in NBA history to play at least 20 seasons.

Bryant has been known to use a Sikorsky S-76 helicopter to travel for years - often flying from Newport Beach to the Staples Center for Lakers games.

This article was first published on nzherald.co.nz and is republished here with permission