On Sunday, Jan. 26, the world was shaken to its core when we learned of the passing of NBA legend Kobe Bryant in a helicopter crash. He was only 41.

As a 21-year-old, life-long sports fan and a journalist covering sports for the last four years, I do not ever remember news shattering the sports world like it did on Sunday.

Just based on recollection, the Lance Armstrong doping scandal, Aaron Hernandez murders and eventual suicide, the Michael Vick prison sentence and the downfall of Tiger Woods (and eventual rebound), all resonate as some of the biggest sports stories in my lifetime.

None of them have come close to having the impact of the news of Bryant’s passing.

For credibility’s sake, I have to establish that I am a lifelong hockey fan and basketball naturally took a back seat during my youth. However, what I do remember is the historic 2007-08 and 2009-10 NBA Finals that featured the Celtics vs. Lakers.

As basketball enthusiasts can attest, I am of the Bryant No. 24 era, not the No. 8 era. For non-basketball enthusiasts, this basically means I followed Bryant in the second half of his career.

Being that Bryant played for the Los Angeles Lakers and they are obviously on the West Coast, I never watched him play avidly, as his games were played late at night. However, Kobe was a part of my childhood and his death is heartbreaking.

What I remember most about Bryant is his magnificent fadeaway jump shots, ability to splash game-winning buzzer-beaters and take just about any defender to the rim. Each time Kobe had the ball in his hands, you knew he was going to score. He probably is the second-best basketball player of my lifetime — behind only LeBron James, one of Bryant’s closest friends.

In reading so many of the thoughts from those on social media, I was amazed at how much Kobe impacted people’s lives. My friends shed tears and professional figures I respect were left heartbroken and speechless. That is what makes his tragic death so hard to bear.

So young. So tragic. So unexpected. The sports world lost a hero. One that can never be replaced.