KOBE Bryant made his first appearance in the ESPN docuseries on Michael Jordan, leaving NBA fans and players in an emotional wreck on Sunday.
The late Los Angeles Lakers icon was referenced instantly in episode five of The Last Dance, which was dedicated to him.
Kobe’s segment paid homage to Jordan, with the basketball legend and recognizing that everything about his game came from the man himself.
“I don’t get five championships here without him,” he said.
“Because he guided me so much, he gave me so much great advice.”
Shortly after, the docuseries dives into his first NBA All-Star appearance and cuts to the Eastern All-Stars locker room, where the best players of the 1990s discussed then-rookie Kobe – including Jordan himself.
The 18-time all-star reportedly recorded his portion of the documentary shortly before his tragic death in a helicopter crash in January, according to CBS Sports.
Several NBA players and fans tweeted about Kobe’s appearance Sunday night.
Many players said they miss him and expressed their disbelief that a man who they called their “MJ” is no longer alive.
“KOBE WAS MY MJ,” wrote Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young.
“We all miss you Kobe,” said the Chicago Bulls before capping the post with two hearts in the Lakers signature gold and purple.
“It will never feel real Kobe isn’t here with us,” lamented former Phoenix Suns guard Jamal Crawford.
“Seeing Kobe on the last dance,” wrote Walter, who tweeted a photo of a man shedding a single tear.
“Seeing @kobebryant in the #LastDance episode is tear jerking,” wrote Ty Marquez.
KOBE WAS MY MJ
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) May 4, 2020
We all miss you Kobe
pic.twitter.com/7K2IRjExxh
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) May 4, 2020
It will never feel real Kobe isn't here with us..
—
Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) May 4, 2020
Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) Seeing @kobebryant in the #LastDance episode is tear jerking
— Ty Marquez (@yungwavy88) May 4, 2020
Although Kobe and Jordan have often been compared to one another, the two shared a longstanding respect of one another.
Like many of his contemporaries, Kobe said saw Jordan as someone to look up to and described his childhood idol as his “big brother” in his Last Dance interview.
In February, a visibly shaken Jordan memorialized his “little brother” Kobe in a moving speech at his funeral in Los Angeles.
A visibly emotional Jordan eulogized his ‘little brother’ Kobe at the NBA legend’s funeral in February
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“When Kobe Bryant died, a piece of me died. And as I look in this arena and across the globe, a piece of you died, or else you wouldn’t be here,” he told the crowd of more than 20,000 fans at Staples Center.
“I promise you from this day forward, I will live with the memories of knowing that I had a little brother and I tried to help in every way I could.
“Please rest in peace little brother.”
