Dallas Mavericks retire number 24 in honor of Kobe Bryant

Tributes have been pouring in from the NBA and beyond in honor of NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, who passed away Sunday afternoon in a helicopter crash.

The latest team to honor the 41-year-old and his daughter is the Dallas Mavericks, who released an official statement to their website on Sunday night:

“We are shocked and saddened by the devastating news of the passing of Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna. Kobe was an ambassador for our game, a decorated legend and a global icon," wrote owner Mark Cuban.

"Above all, he was a loving and dedicated father. Kobe’s legacy transcends basketball, and our organization has decided that the number 24 will never again be worn by a Dallas Maverick."

The Mavericks are the first team to release an official statement on the retiring of Bryant's iconic number, which he switched to for the second half of his career after starting as #8.

The number 24 does not currently belong to any rostered Mavericks players.

"Our hearts go out to all the lives lost and the families impacted by this terrible tragedy, " the statement concluded.

"We send our thoughts and prayers to Vanessa and the family, the Lakers organization and Kobe Bryant fans everywhere.”

Former teammates and other NBA stars took to social media to mourn and pay tribute to the fallen star, including longstanding friend and teammate, Shaq:

"There’s no words to express the pain Im going through with this tragedy of loosing my neice Gigi & my brother @kobebryant," Shaq painfully penned, I love u and u will be missed."

"My condolences goes out to the Bryant family and the families of the other passengers on board. IM SICK RIGHT NOW".