Michael Jordan on Why He Can’t Bear to Delete Last Ever Chat with Kobe Bryant

- Basketball icon Michael Jordan has spoken out on why he cannot delete his last ever text with the late Kobe Bryant

- Speaking to a United States publication, the former Chicago Bulls star says he enjoyed talking to Bryant about tequilas and so on

- Meanwhile, the late Los Angeles Lakers player, Bryant, is set to be inducted into the Hall of Fame by Jordan this weekend

Basketball legend Michael Jordan says he can’t find any reason to delete his final chats with late National Basketball Association’s star Kobe Bryant. According to the DailyMail, Jordan’s revelation comes after his former protégé and Los Angeles player died in a tragic helicopter crash in January last year.

Bryant, who bagged five NBA championships in a trophy-laden and stunning career, passed away with his 13-year-old daughter, Gigi, and seven other people in Calabasas, California.

Known as basketball’s greatest player of all time, the Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan has revealed they had been exchanging messages with each other just 49 days before the crash took place.

The legend’s revelation suggests that he and Bryant were particularly close and spoke to ESPN, adding that one of their chats was all about tequila.

Jordan is set to induct the late Bryant into the Hall of Fame this weekend. Jordan is quoted by ESPN:

'This tequila is awesome,' Jordan says Bryant texted him first.

'Thank you, my brother,' Jordan messaged back.

'Yes, sir. Family good?' Bryant replied.

'All good. Yours?'

'All good.'

Jordan added: 'Happy holidays, and hope to catch up soon. Coach Kobe??!'

'Ah, back at you, man,' Bryant replied. 'Hey, coach, I'm sitting on the bench right now, and we're blowing this team out. 45-8.'

Speaking about the messages, Jordan said:

"I just love that text because it shows Kobe's competitive nature. I don't know why, but I just can't delete it."

The DailyMail also reported that Jordan, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009, choked back tears at the Staples Center in Los Angeles during an event honouring Bryant's life in 2020. Jordan during the event:

"When Kobe Bryant died, a piece of me died,'"Jordan said during the ceremony.

"Maybe it surprised people … but we were very close friends. Everyone always wanted to talk about the comparisons between he and I. I just wanted to talk about Kobe."

Meanwhile, YEN.com.gh previously reported that Jordan was set to induct the late Kobe Bryant into the 2020 Hall of Fame on May 15, 2021, at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut, according to TMZ.

Kobe had always modelled his game after his childhood hero Jordan, who had an amazing career with the Chicago Bulls.

It was the turn of the basketball legend to return the favour by inducting the former LA Lakers point guard into the archives of great players of the game.