Los Angeles Lakers match postponed out of respect after deaths of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna

The National Basketball Association has confirmed that Wednesday’s scheduled match between the LA Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers has been postponed following the death of Lakers legend Kobe Bryant.

Bryant, a five-time NBA champion who played for the Lakers throughout his 20-year NBA career, died aged 41 in a helicopter crash on Sunday alongside his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others.

The Lakers were set to meet the Clippers at Staples Center in their first game since the tragedy, but the fixture will now take place at a later date "out of respect for the Lakers organisation", the NBA confirmed.

A short statement from the NBA read: “The decision was made out of respect for the Lakers organisation, 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.”

The game will be rescheduled at a later date.