“Kobe was my dear friend, he was like a little brother,” Jordan said at the memorial service at Staples Center in Los Angeles to the thousands in attendance. “When Kobe died, a little piece of me died.”
As soon as Jordan started his speech, Jordan broke down almost, and, about halfway through, he did not hesitate to poke fun at himself for being unable to hold his emotions together.
"In the game of basketball, in life, as a parent, Kobe left nothing in the tank," Jordan said. "He left it all on the floor."
Bryant played his entire career - two decades - with the Lakers. His untimely death sent shockwaves throughout the world, with global sports icons and basketball fans saddened by the news.
Frequently hailed as one of the greatest basketball minds' of his generation, Bryant was a five-time NBA champion, 18-time All-Star and a two-time Olympic gold medalist.