Michael Jordan’s touching tribute after Kobe Bryant’s fatal helicopter crash

Michael Jordan mourned the death of Kobe Bryant, saying the Los Angeles Lakers icon was “like a little brother” to him.

Michael Jordan mourned the death of Kobe Bryant on Sunday, saying the Los Angeles Lakers icon was “like a little brother” to him.

Six-time NBA champion Jordan said in a statement Bryant would be remembered as one of basketball’s greatest players.

Bryant, 41, and his daughter Gianna died on Sunday along with seven other people when the helicopter they were travelling in crashed into a rugged hillside in suburban Los Angeles.

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“I am in shock over the tragic news of Kobe’s and Gianna’s passing,” said Jordan, regarded by many as the greatest basketball player in history.

“Words can’t describe the pain I’m feeling. I loved Kobe - he was like a little brother to me. We used to talk often and I will miss those conversations very much.

“He was a fierce competitor, one of the greats of the game and a creative force. Kobe was also an amazing dad who loved his family deeply - and took great pride in his daughter’s love for the game of basketball.” Bryant’s death sparked an outpouring of tributes across basketball and throughout the world.

LeBron James, who recently paid tribute to Bryant after overtaking him on the list of the NBA’s greatest ever point-scorers to move into third, was shown breaking down as he disembarked the LA Lakers’ team plane, wiping away tears and hugging loved ones.

LeBron James was understandably devastated.

Here is Michael Jordan’s full statement:

It’s just amazing that we were blessed to have a chance to know him, but also to see him play. But to me, his greatest joy was really after basketball, was being a husband and a father and being a coach of his daughter’s basketball team.

I used to love, when we won the championships, just going into the locker room and talking to him. We would be in the trainers room, just him and I, one time him and Shaq, and just reflecting on the journey of becoming a champion. I tell you the greatest conversation we had, though, was both of us saying how much we loved being a Laker. Kobe relished being a Laker and playing his whole career just for the Lakers. And he loved Jeanie Buss and Dr. Buss, but he loved Jeanie. They were like sister and brother. We always laughed. He would tell me I was 1A and he was 1B.

People are going to miss his smile and just miss him. Kobe had an aura about him. I thought he was going to live forever. I thought he was invincible. He played like that. He walked like that. He was just a confident young man.

I’m going to miss him.

I got the honour of blessing him when they put both of his numbers up, No. 8, No. 24. Kobe is unique in so many different ways. When you put on that uniform, that Laker uniform, there was nobody who took more pride in being a Laker. Nobody. It was just amazing. The city needs heroes, Jim. We need our heroes to be here. And this is not a good day for the city of Los Angeles because we needed Kobe to still be around our kids who idolized him, the fanbase who idolized him. And there was more for him to do. He died way too early. He’s left quite a legacy, but he was still building on it.

There was just something special. God created this special basketball player but also this special man.

Today to have to say goodbye to a hero, a legend, an icon a guy we’ll always love and remember…

This guy, he wanted to win. And he would do anything it took to win. Anything.

He shared his talents with other young players. He would work out five or 10 NBA players every summer. He would work out WNBA players, young ladies. Anybody that called him, he’d work them out and given them advice. That says something about Kobe Bryant.

I’m not supposed to be doing this. He’s supposed to be talking about me. He’s way too young. I was supposed to pass away. He was supposed to be talking about me, not me talking about him. It’s a sad day, man