Michael Jordan’s poignant Kobe tribute: ‘A piece of me died’

Michael Jordan says he didn’t see Kobe Bryant as his rival for mythical hor of being recognized as best basketball player ever.

Instead, he came to love Bryant as little bror he never had, and as a student er to learn from Jordan’s experiences and skills.

“He wanted to be best basketball player that he could be,” Jordan said Monday at Bryant’s public memorial service at Staples Center. “And as I got to kw him, I wanted to be best big bror that I could be.”

Jordan broke into tears with those words during a moving speech about his largely unpublicized friendship with Bryant, who died along with his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven ors in a helicopter crash Jan. 26.

“When Kobe Bryant died, a piece of me died,” Jordan said. “And as I look (around) this arena and across globe, a piece of you died, or else you wouldn’t be here. Those are memories that we have to live with and we learn from. I promise you from this day forward, I will live with memories of kwing that little bror that I tried to help in every way I could. Please rest in peace, little bror.”

heartfelt comments from Jordan, relatively media-shy billionaire owner of Charlotte Hornets, were a poignant highlight of two-hour ceremony. Jordan also provided a memorable im from event when he stepped up to help Vanessa Bryant off st after she delivered her eulogy of her husband and daughter.

Bryant’s career with Los Angeles Lakers took off in late 1990s when Jordan was wrapping up his own stellar career with Chicago Bulls. two shooting guards with silky, aggressive offensive games competed fiercely against each or, with Jordan initially unwilling to cede ground to Bryant as next superstar at ir position.

But once y became acquaintances, Bryant bombarded Jordan with late-night phone calls and questions about how to improve. When a retired Jordan traveled to Los Angeles to visit Phil Jackson, former Bulls coach n in charge of Lakers, Jordan was greeted by Bryant — who immediately asked him if he had brought his shoes so y could play.

“ matter where he saw me, he saw challenge,” Jordan said. “And I admired him because of his passion. You rarely see someone who’s looking and trying to improve each and every day, t just in sports, but as a parent, as a husband. I am inspired by what he’s done and what he’s shared with Vanessa, and what he’s shared with his kids.”

Bryant kept up his questions even during ir retirements. Just a couple of months ago, Bryant texted Jordan for insight on teaching moves to Gigi Bryant, who aspired to a basketball career.

Jordan is fifth-leading scorer in NBA history with 32,292 points. Bryant — who played 274 more games — passed him on career scoring list during his penultimate season in December 2014.

Kobe’s 33,643 points currently put him fourth on chart, with only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone and LeBron James above m.

Jordan won six titles with Bulls, while Bryant won five rings and reached seven NBA Finals with Lakers.

Fans have spent decades comparing Jordan to Bryant, and comparing both to James. Jordan isn’t interested in that game.

“Kobe never left anything on court, and I think that’s what he would want for us to do,” Jordan said. “ one kws how much time we have. That’s why we must live in moment. We must enjoy moment. We must reach and see and spend as much time as we can with our families and friends and people that we absolutely love.”

Jordan teared up several times during his speech, which allowed him to bring a moment of levity to somber proceedings.

He is well aware of Crying Jordan meme in which an Associated Press photo of his tear-stained face from his 2009 Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremony is superimposed on athletes and public figures at moments of loss or disappointment.

“w he’s got me. I’m going to have to look at ar crying meme for next ...” Jordan said while arena dissolved into laughter.

“I told my wife I wasn’t going to do this because I didn’t want to see that for next three or four years,” Jordan added. “That is what Kobe Bryant does to me. I’m pretty sure Vanessa and his friends all can say same thing. He kws how to get to you in a way that affects you personally. Even though if he’s being a pain in ass, you have a sense of love for him and way that he can bring out best in you, and he did that for me.”