Michael Jordan did not speak for Kobe Bryant Hall of Fame speech

Michael Jordan was present for Kobe Bryant’s induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame, but Vanessa Bryant was the one who gave the speech.

Michael Jordan had the honor of inducting the late Kobe Bryant into the Naismith Memorial National Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday evening, but his role was more of a supporting role.

The two had a close relationship that was really evident when Jordan spoke at the memorial for the late Los Angeles Lakers star after he was tragically killed in a helicopter accident that also claimed the life of his daughter Gianna and seven others.

Jordan was Bryant’s idol during his illustrious playing career. Bryant was the closest approximation to Jordan we may ever see. In two decades with the Los Angeles Lakers, Bryant won five NBA championships, becoming an iconic figure domestically and internationally on the hardwood. He may have felt like Los Angeles, but Bryant had great reach throughout generations of hoopers.

Michael Jordan was there to support Vanessa Bryant during her speech

Many expected Jordan to give a speech at the induction ceremony, but it was actually Vanessa Bryant who had Lakers and NBA fans everywhere in tears. It was nice to see Jordan so supportive, and Vanessa was an absolute pillar of strength with the speech she delivered.

While Jordan and Bryant’s careers briefly overlapped, we never really had the breadth of knowledge of how close they were. These were two of the most competitive basketball players the NBA has seen, rarely letting their emotions get the best of them when it comes to playing championship ball. After Bryant’s passing, everything changed.

Nearly 16 months since his tragic helicopter crash that took the life of Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others, it is still hard to fathom Bryant is no longer with us. Even though he did not live to see himself be inducted into the Hall of Fame, we all know he was there in spirit to take it all in.

His daughter Natalia wore the Hall of Fame jacket he would be wearing if he were still alive in an emotional tribute to her father with her mother Vanessa by her side.