Kobe Bryant made a posthumous a posthumous on Michael Jordan docuseries The Last Dance on Sunday night which left many fans heartbroken.
The Los Angeles Lakers megastar – who died alongside his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others in a helicopter crash back in January – was highlighted at the very beginning of episode 5.
Kobe was one of the dozens of stars interviewed featured in the series and even called Jordan his ‘big brother’ when talking about their mentorship.
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Gone too soon: Kobe Bryant made a posthumous a posthumous on Michael Jordan docuseries The Last Dance on Sunday night which left many fans heartbroken
Dynamic duo: The Los Angeles Lakers megastar – who died alongside his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others in a helicopter crash back in January – was highlighted at the very beginning of episode 5
The five-time NBA champion – who passed away aged 41 – mimicked much of his game after the Chicago Bulls legend as he credited him with his guidance in helping him become the elite championship player he would eventually become.
Bryant said: ‘I had a question about shooting this turnaround shot, so I asked him about it.
‘He gave me a great detailed answer. But, on top of that, he said, “If you ever need anything, give me a call.” He’s like my big brother.’
Bond: Kobe was one of the dozens of stars interviewed featured in the series and even called Jordan his ‘big brother’ when talking about their mentorship
Credit where credit is due: The five-time NBA champion – who passed away aged 41 – mimicked much of his game after the Chicago Bulls legend as he credited him with his guidance in helping him become the elite championship player he would eventually become
‘He’s like my big brother’: Kobe said Jordan gave him advice on his turnaround jumpshot and encouraged him to keep in contact
‘What you get from me is from him’: As the two shooting guards have been compared since the beginning of Kobe’s career, the younger star made it clear that he dislikes any notions of a rivalry or competition between them
As the two shooting guards have been compared since the beginning of Kobe’s career, the younger star made it clear that he dislikes any notions of a rivalry or competition between them.
Bryant explained: ‘I truly hate having discussions about who would win one on one. “Hey Kobe, you beat Michael one on one.”
‘”I feel like, Yo—what you get from me is from him. I won’t get five championships here without him because he guided me so much and gave me so much great advice.’
‘This hurts all over again’: The beginning of the episode also featured a dedication to the deceased NBA star as it read: ‘In loving memory of Kobe Bryant’
‘Then I remembered 2020 happened’: Another posted the .GIF of Anthony Anderson crying on the couch from Black-ish
‘We all miss you Kobe’: Thousands of fans took to social media to express their grief
The beginning of the episode also featured a dedication to the deceased NBA star as it read: ‘In loving memory of Kobe Bryant.’
Twitter and other social media was obviously devastated by the appearance as one fan wrote: ‘This, and this hurts all over again!! #Kobe-bean Bryant.’
Another posted the .GIF of Anthony Anderson crying on the couch from Black-ish with the caption: ‘ When I saw Kobe on #TheLastDance for a second I thought he was still here. [several crying emojis]
‘Then I remembered 2020 happened.’
Jordan’s team, the Chicago Bulls, even posted a photo of the two with the caption: ‘We all miss you Kobe [purple and gold emojis]’
Game recognize game: The segment also featured a video shot from the locker room of the 1998 NBA All-Star Game as Kobe played his first at just 19-years-old becoming the youngest in history
‘That little Laker boy’s gonna take everbody one-on-one’: Jordan – who is considered the greatest NBA player of all-time – already recognized the Philadelphia born star’s potential
High regard: MJ continued: ‘He don’t let the game come to him. He just go out there and take it’
‘Kobe would have taken this as the highest compliment’: Social media personality Got ‘Em Coach responded to the clip on Twitter
The segment also featured a video shot from the locker room of the 1998 NBA All-Star Game as Kobe played his first at just 19-years-old becoming the youngest in history.
Jordan – who is considered the greatest NBA player of all-time – already recognized the Philadelphia born star’s potential as he said: ‘That little Laker boy’s gonna take everyone one-on-one.
‘He don’t let the game come to him. He just go out there and take it. I’m gonna make this s*** happen. I’m gonna make this a one-on-one game.’
Social media personality Got ‘Em Coach responded to the clip on Twitter writing: ‘Kobe would’ve taken this as the highest compliment. “He don’t let the game come to him. He just go out and take it.” That’s g**d*** right. Rest In Peace, Kob.’
No sibling rivalry here! Bryant and Jordan seen at The Forum in Inglewood back in 1998
Kobe and his daughter Gianna ‘Gigi’ Bryant had been on their way to the Mamba Academy in Thousand Oaks, California for basketball practice when the chopper crashed at around 9.30am on Sunday, January 26.
They died along with all seven others on board as the S-76 Sikorsky helicopter encountered thick fog and crashed into hills of Las Virgenes Canyon, which is home to celebrities including the Kardashians.
Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife Kerry, and their daughter Alyssa were also among the dead.
Camaraderie: The two shared a special moment as Kobe helped Jordan to his feet after his comeback with the Washington Wizards
Bond: Jordan and Kobe seen together at the NBA All-Star Game in Atlanta back in February 2003
Other victims included Sarah Chester, Payton Chester (13), Christina Mauser and the pilot, Ara Zobayan.
The flying conditions had been poor and the LAPD had decided to ground all its own choppers due to the fog.
Kobe and Gianna are survived by wife and mother Vanessa and three daughters/sisters: 17-year-old Natalie, three-year-old Bianka, and seven-month-old Capri.
Devastating: As Kobe’s daughter Gianna ‘Gigi’ Bryant was a basketball superstar in the making, she and father/coach Kobe had been on their way to the Mamba Academy in Thousand Oaks, California for basketball practice when chopper crashed at around 9.30am on Sunday, January 26, they are seen in December
Jordan famously spoke at Bryant’s memorial service at Staples Center in Los Angeles back in February as he surprised many with a very touching speech.
After talking about what a privilege it was to get to know Bryant, who he called his ‘little brother,’ a weeping Jordan took a second to lighten the mood.
‘Now I have to look at another crying meme…’ he said, nodding at the long-circulated ‘Crying Jordan’ meme – a beloved reaction image of the athlete breaking down during his 2009 Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
A moment of levity:Jordan famously spoke at Bryant’s memorial service at Staples Center in Los Angeles back in February as he surprised many with a very touching speech and even made a well-timed reference the ‘Crying Jordan’ meme
Original: The meme started as a reaction image of the athlete breaking down during his 2009 Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremony, seen above
Close connection: ‘I took great pride as I got to know Kobe Bryant, that he was just trying to be a better person, a better basketball player. We talked about business. We talked about family. We talked about everything. He was just trying to be a better person,’ Michael said
Meme time: Some examples of the viral image are seen above
Michael Jordan’s tribute to Kobe Bryant
‘I’m grateful to be here to honor Gigi and celebrate the gift that Kobe gave to us all. What he accomplished as a basketball player, as a business man, and a storyteller, and as a father. In the game of basketball, in life, and as a parent, Kobe left nothing in the tank. He left it all on the floor.
‘Maybe it’s a surprise to people that Kobe and I were very close friends, but we were very close friends. Kobe was my dear friend, he was like a little brother.
‘Everyone always wanted to talk about the comparisons between he and I. I just wanted to talk about Kobe.
‘You know all of us have brothers and sisters. Little brothers, little sisters, who for whatever reason tend to get into your stuff, your closet, your shoes, everything. It was a nuisance, if I could say that word.
Emotional: Michael Jordan was tearful as he paid tribute to Kobe Bryant during a celebration of his life on February 24 2020 at Los Angeles’ Staples Center
‘But that nuisance turned into love over a period of time. Just because the admiration that they had for you as big brother or big sister. The questions, the wanting to know every little detail about the life they were about to embark on. He used to call me, text me, at 11:30, 2:30 3o’clock in the morning. Talking about post up moves, footwork, and sometimes the triangle.
‘At first it was an aggravation. But then it turned into a certain passion. This kid had passion, like you would never know.
‘It’s an amazing thing about passion. If you love something, if you have a strong passion for something, you will go to the extreme to try to understand or try to get it. Either ice cream, Cokes, hamburgers, whatever you have a love for, if you have to walk, you would go get it. If you have to beg someone, you will get it.
‘What Kobe Bryant was to me, was the inspiration that someone truly cared about the way I either played the game or the way he wanted to play the game. He wanted to be the best basketball player that he could be. And as I got to know him I wanted to be the best big brother that I could be.
‘To do that, you had to put up with the aggravation, the late night calls, or the dumb questions.
‘I took great pride as I got to know Kobe Bryant, that he was just trying to be a better person, a better basketball player. We talked about business. We talked about family. We talked about everything. He was just trying to be a better person.
‘Now he’s got me, I’m going to have to look at another crying meme for the next… I told my wife I wasn’t going to do this ’cuz I didn’t want to see that for the next three or four years.
‘That’s how much Kobe meant to me. I’m pretty sure Vanessa and all his friends all can say the same thing. He knows how to get to you in a way that effects you personally, even though if he was being a pain in the a**, but you have a sense of love for him and
Jordan’s tears flowed as he recounted his relationship with Bryant, describing him as a ‘little brother.’
‘I took great pride as I got to know Kobe Bryant, that he was just trying to be a better person, a better basketball player. We talked about business. We talked about family. We talked about everything. He was just trying to be a better person,’ Michael said.
Continuing to cry, the basketball great said: ‘I have to look at another crying meme for the next [few years]…’
The crowd erupted into applause at the reference.
Greatest assist of his career? Jordan also offered his hand to help Bryant’s wife off the stage after her emotional eulogy
Michael went on, saying: ‘I told my wife I wasn’t gonna do this…cause I didn’t [want to see this] for the next three or four years!’
‘That is what Kobe Bryant does to me,’ he went on.
Jordan also offered his hand to help Bryant’s wife off the stage after her emotional eulogy.
The 10-part docuseries charts the rise of the 1990’s Chicago Bulls, led by Michael Jordan, one of the most notable dynasties in sports history.
The Last Dance, airs on ESPN in two hour-long episodes on Sundays at 9pm.
GOAT: The Last Dance, airs on ESPN in two hour-long episodes on Sundays at 9pm