Michael Jordan reveals he cannot bear to delete his last-ever text chat with Kobe Bryant just weeks before his death in a helicopter crash… as the NBA legend prepares to induct his friend into the Hall of Fame

Michael Jordan has revealed he still cannot bring himself to delete the last-ever text exchange he had with Kobe Bryant before the Los Angeles Lakers legend died in a helicopter crash in January 2020.

Bryant, who won five NBA championships in a stunning career, and his 13-year-old daughter Gigi died along with seven other people in the horrific crash in Calabasas, California.

Jordan, the greatest basketball player of all time, and Bryant were particularly close and the Chicago Bulls legend has revealed they were exchanging messages with each other just 49 days before the crash took place.

Michael Jordan (left) cannot delete the last-ever text exchange he had with Kobe Bryant (right)

The two were fierce competitors in the NBA but Bryant (right) saw Jordan (left) as a brother

The Chicago Bulls legend has told ESPN that they were talking about tequila, family and basketball but Jordan just cannot bring himself to delete the messages once and for all.

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

‘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.’

Jordan has been selected to induct Bryant into the NBA’s Hall of Fame

Bryant famously listed Jordan, current owner of NBA franchise Charlotte Hornets, and his former coach Phil Jackson as two people he wanted to present him at his Hall of Fame induction.

The NBA have ensured one of his wishes is honoured as he is inducted posthumously.

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 last year.

‘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.’

Bryant (left) and Jordan (right) talk during a free-throw attempt in an NBA clash back in 1997

Speaking in Jordan’s ‘The Last Dance’ documentary that proved a hit on Netflix last year, Bryant opened up on their relationship.

‘It was a rough couple years for me coming into the league, cause at the time the league was so much older, it’s not as young as it is today,’ the Lakers icon said.

‘So nobody was really thinking much of me, I was a kid that shot a bunch of air balls, you know what I mean? And at that point, Michael provided a lot of guidance for me.

‘Like I had a question about shooting this turnaround shot, so I asked him about it.

‘He gave me a great, detailed answer but on top of that, he said, “If you ever need anything, give me a call.” That’s like my big brother.’