News — Michael Jordan

Just like the entire basketball fraternity, NBA legend Michael Jordan is still struggling to come to terms with the death of his very good friend and brother, Kobe Bryant. The 41-year-old Los Angeles Lakers superstar alongside eight others including his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, passed away in a helicopter crash in Calabasas last year when they were headed to a youth basketball game.

Speaking to ESPN’s Jackie MacMullen, Jordan, 58, admitted he’s still grappling with grief to such an extent that he cannot even muster the strength to delete the final text messages he exchanged with Bryant, TMZ reported. The NBA Hall of Famer revealed their last conversation happened 49 days before the tragic January 26 helicopter crash. And Bryant had messaged him to tell him he loved a tequila bottle he had gifted him. They later spoke about their families and of course, basketball.

“This tequila is awesome,” Jordan recalled Kobe texted about his new tequila. The Chicago Bulls legend said he replied by texting, “Thank you, my brother.”

“Yes, sir. Family good?” Kobe asked.

“All good. Yours?” Jordan said he responded, with Bryant subsequently texting, “All good.”

Jordan added: “Happy holidays, and hope to catch up soon. Coach Kobe??!”

“Ah, back at you, man,” Jordan said Kobe texted. “Hey, coach, I’m sitting on the bench right now, and we’re blowing this team out. 45-8.”

Jordan said the message Kobe sent about his daughter Gianna’s team beating their opponents by a stretch was his favorite text. “I just love that text because it shows Kobe’s competitive nature,” he said, adding: “I don’t know why, but I just can’t delete it.”

Jordan delivered an emotional and teary eulogy during Bryant’s memorial service in February last year. The basketball legend will yet again take the podium on Saturday to present Kobe for his enshrinement into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Jordan, who was personally selected by Vanessa Bryant, said he’s honored to be inducting the deceased basketball legend and the event will be an emotional one, TMZ reported.

“It’s like standing up for a family member,” Jordan said. “He paid me the highest respect by trying to emulate certain things I did.”

“And I can only repay that by showing my support and admiration for a guy who I felt was one of the greatest to ever play the game.”

NBA Champion and Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan isn’t showing any signs of slowing down with his philanthropic endeavors as he recently donated $2 million in proceeds from his The Last Dance documentary to Feeding America.

In a Tweet on Wednesday, the nonprofit hunger-relief organization, which provides food to needy Americans through its nationwide network of food banks, expressed gratitude to the billionaire business mogul.

“An incredible gift to be thankful for – NBA legend Michael Jordan is donating $2 million to help our neighbors facing hunger! #TheLastDance,” the organization tweeted.

Released in April, Jordan’s 10-part documentary chronicles his final season with the Chicago Bulls in 1997/98 and their run-up to winning the championship that season. Following its premiere, the ESPN co-produced miniseries went ahead to chalk a lot of success and became the most-watched documentary ever on the sports channel, averaging over 5 million viewers during the period of broadcast..

Before the documentary premiered, the NBA hall of famer pledged to donate proceeds from it to the Friends of the Children nonprofit organization.

“In these challenging times and in a year of unimaginable difficulty due to COVID-19, it’s more important than ever to pause and give thanks,” the 57-year-old said on Wednesday. “I am proud to be donating additional proceeds from The Last Dance to Feeding America and its member food banks in the Carolinas and Chicago to help feed America’s hungry.”

Giving back

In October, Jordan opened a second, fully-funded, medical clinic in Charlotte to provide healthcare to patients with limited or no health insurance.

The opening of the new Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinic in the state the six-time NBA champion grew up and nurtured his talent comes three years after he pledged $7 million to Novant Health, and a year after the first of the two health facilities dedicated to the underprivileged was open.

“To see how this has evolved over the last year is to gratifying. It makes me want to continue doing more so that we can keep answering the bell when the bell is ringing,” Jordan, 57, said about the opening of the clinic.

The opening of the first facility in 2019 was an emotional one for the majority owner of the Charlotte Hornets, as he broke down in tears while delivering his speech. Upon opening, the first clinic has served over 3,000 patients and was also used as a screening and testing center for COVID-19 early in the year, conducting over 13,000 tests.

Basketball legend and billionaire business mogul Michael Jordan opened a second, fully-funded, medical clinic in Charlotte earlier this week to provide healthcare to patients with limited or no health insurance, CNN reports.

The opening of the new Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinic in the state the six-time NBA champion grew up and nurtured his talent comes three years after he pledged $7 million to Novant Health, and a year after the first of the two health facilities dedicated to the underprivileged was open.

“To see how this has evolved over the last year is to gratifying. It makes me want to continue doing more so that we can keep answering the bell when the bell is ringing,” Jordan, 57, said about the opening of the clinic via video.

Located in the city’s North End community, the 6,800-square-foot facility is equipped with amenities including an x-ray and physical therapy department as well as 12 patient exam rooms, according to CNN.

“When we came together to mark the first clinic’s opening last fall, no one could have predicted we would be facing a global pandemic just five months later,” Jordan said. “I’m so proud of the positive impact our clinic has had on the community so far, especially during COVID-19. Our second clinic will provide critical services to improve the health and lives of more Charlotteans, which is so important to me and to Novant Health.”

The opening of the first facility in 2019 was an emotional one for the majority owner of the Charlotte Hornets as he was in tears while delivering his speech. Upon opening, the first clinic has served over 3,000 patients and was also used as a screening and testing center for COVID-19 early in the year, conducting over 13,000 tests.

“We are thrilled the North End community of Charlotte will have access to the same comprehensive care that is transforming lives at the Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinic in west Charlotte,” Carl Armato, CEO and president of Novant Health, said during the opening of the second clinic, WBTV reports.

“The impact of the first clinic has been measurable and if COVID-19 has taught us anything, it is the importance of having accessible, safe and quality care in communities that need it most. Michael Jordan’s commitment to improving the health of our communities, and society, is deep-rooted. We’re so grateful to be his partner in bringing care and resources to those who would otherwise be without.”