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[Saba Sports News] Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant were not only two of the greatest basketball players of all time, but they also shared a deep friendship.
Over the years, their bond grew stronger, and on the fifth anniversary of Bryant’s passing, their final text exchange resurfaced—reminding the world of their connection and making it even harder to hold back emotions.
Kobe’s last message to Jordan was classic Bryant—lighthearted, competitive, and full of life.
This tequila is awesome,” Kobe texted, referring to Jordan’s Cincoro Tequila, which had been sent to him at its launch.
“Thank you, my brother,”Jordan replied.
“Yes, sir. Family good?”Kobe asked.
“All good. Yours?”
“All good.”
Jordan smiled, recalling their banter. Knowing how much Kobe loved coaching his daughter Gianna’s basketball team, he decided to tease him a bit.
“Happy holidays, and hope to catch up soon. Coach Kobe??!” Jordan texted, adding a laughing emoji.
Kobe’s response was pure Mamba mentality.
“Ah, back at you, man. Hey, coach, I’m sitting on the bench right now, and we’re blowing this team out. 45-8.”
That moment captured exactly where Bryant was in life—thriving as a coach and loving every second of it. Tragically, just 49 days later, on January 26, 2020, Kobe and Gianna lost their lives in a helicopter crash en route to a basketball game at the Mamba Sports Academy.
Their sudden passing shook the world, and Jordan, devastated by the loss, paid tribute with an emotional speech at Kobe’s memorial at the Staples Center. He struggled to hold back tears, showing just how much their friendship meant to him.
In 2021, Jordan had the honor of inducting Bryant into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Before the ceremony, he shared their final text exchange with ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan, admitting that even after more than a year, he couldn’t bring himself to delete Kobe’s number or their last messages.
“I don’t know why,” Jordan admitted, “but I just can’t delete it.”
That sentiment speaks volumes. Jordan never expected to feel this deeply about Kobe, especially given how their relationship started.
“At first, he was an irritant,” Jordan once said. “But then it became a sense of respect. I respected him for that. To me, I’d probably do the same thing.”
Bryant modeled his game after Jordan, striving to mirror his skill, mentality, and greatness. While Kobe may not have surpassed “His Airness,” he still carved out an unforgettable legacy—five NBA championships, two Finals MVPs, one league MVP, and two scoring titles over 20 seasons with the Lakers.
Their bond, built on competition and mutual admiration, remains one of the most profound relationships in basketball history.
And those final messages? They serve as a heartbreaking but beautiful reminder of what was lost too soon.