Did stammering MSNBC anchor use N-word when reporting Kobe Bryant’s death? She says no

It’s often awkward when news anchors, with limited knowledge of sports, get caught in the middle of a major breaking sports story. They often get tongue-tied, mispronounce players’ names and get simple sports facts wrong.

Sure, they know how to pronounce China president Xi Jinping’s name, but Giannis Antetokounmpo? No chance.

On Sunday, while reporting on the death of Los Angeles Lakers great Kobe Bryant, MSNBC anchor Allison Morris stumbled over her words, leaving social media to debate: Did she say “Los Angeles [N-word]” or, as she claims, “Los Angeles Nakers"?

Her gaffe touched off a Twitter brushfire.

NBA legend Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash in Southern California on Sunday, his sudden death at age 41 touching off an outpouring of grief for a star whose celebrity transcended basketball.

The chopper went down in Calabasas, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) northwest of downtown Los Angeles.

After originally reporting that five people died, authorities confirmed that nine people perished, with no survivors. Bryant, an all-time basketball great who spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, was among the victims, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.

A different person familiar with the case confirmed that Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna also was killed.

(The AP contributed to this report.)