Michael Jordan reveals last text message exchange with Kobe

Michael Jordan revealed the final text message exchange he had with Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant.

This weekend, Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2020. The event was scheduled to take place last year, but was ultimately postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. All eyes will be on Bryant’s posthumous induction, with NBA legend Michael Jordan scheduled to present him at the ceremony.

During an interview with ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan, Jordan revealed the final text message exchange he had with Bryant, which came on Dec. 8, 2019. It all started with Bryant thanking Jordan for a bottle of his Cincoro Tequila before talking about family and his passion of coaching his daughter Gianna.

You can view the text exchange in Complex Sports’ tweet below and read MacMullan’s full article with an ESPN+ subscription.

Michael Jordan reveals final text exchange he had with Kobe Bryant

Additionally, Jordan revealed that he still has Bryant’s phone number and final text messages on his phone.

On Jan. 26, 2020, Bryant and his daughter Gianna were among nine passengers killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, Calif.

In that very interview, Jordan revealed that he checked in on Bryant’s wife Vanessa a few months ago. During the conversation, Vanessa told Jordan that she wanted him to present Kobe at the Basketball Hall of Fame. Jordan accepted.

The Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony will take place this Saturday, May 15, from 5:30 p.m. ET, per the Hall of Fame’s official website. The class will be headlined by Bryant, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett. It will be a truly emotional event for hoops fans that admired and respected Bryant’s game on the court as a member of the Lakers.