Basketball legend Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna have been laid to rest side-by-side in a private burial plot following their deaths in a horrific helicopter crash last month.

The 41-year-old NBA star and his 13-year-old daughter's funeral service was held secretly last Friday at Pacific View Memorial Park in Southern California, near the family's home.

The plot is situated at the very top of the cemetery, overlooking the Newport Coast towards their home and the Pacific Ocean.

Purple and yellow flowers – representing Kobe's Lakers team colours – laid along the stone wall, as well as colourful flower pinwheels and 'love' balloons.

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The site, which appeared to have a gate at the entrance, was said to be one the most expensive in the cemetery, an employee at Pacific View Memorial Park told DailyMail.com.

No details about their funeral service were released.

In death certificates released by the Country of Los Angeles Department of Public Health, Kobe and Gianna died in a 'rapid' manner in the crash and their causes of death are listed as blunt force trauma.

Kobe's wife Vanessa Bryant wrote on her Instagram to announce a new name for the Mamba Sports Foundation.

She wrote: "Because there is no #24 without #2, we have updated the Mamba Sports Foundation to now be called the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation.

"Our missions remains the same – and stronger than ever – to provide opportunities to young people through sports.

"Thank you all for the outpouring of support and your kind donations to date as we carry forth Kobe and Gigi's legacy.

"We hope to empower young athletes in a world they left us all to help shape."

A public memorial is scheduled for February 24 at 10am PT (6pm GMT) at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

The Sikorsky-76 chopper came down in fog in the Calabasas mountains northwest of Los Angeles on January 26.

The other victims were Giana's teammates Alyssa Altobelli and Payton Chester; Alyssa's parents, John and Keri; Payton's mother, Sarah; assistant basketball coach Christina Mauser and pilot Ara Zobayan.

The group was expected to attend a game at the Mamba Sports Academy on the day of the crash.

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