Tearful Michael Jordan commemorates 'little brother' Kobe Bryant

A tearful Michael Jordan remembered his "little brother" Kobe Bryant at a star-filled memorial in Los Angeles for the basketball great and his daughter Gianna, who died with seven others in a helicopter crash last month.

"When Kobe Bryant died, a piece of me died, and as I look in this arena, across the globe, a piece of you died," the NBA legend said on Monday with tears streaming down his face.

"I promise you, from this day forward, I will live with the memories and knowing that I had a little brother," Jordan, widely regarded as the greatest player in history, added.

"I tried to help in every way I could. Please rest in peace, little brother."
The public memorial -- dubbed "A Celebration of Life for Kobe and Gianna Bryant" -- was held at Staples Center, the arena where Bryant wowed fans for 17 years, and known as "the house that Kobe built."
"Folks thought we were on bad terms, (but) when the cameras were turned off, he and I would throw a wink at each other."
Beyonce, backed by a choir, opened the ceremony with one of Bryant's favorite songs "XO," from her 2013 album, followed by "Halo."
- 'He was my everything' -
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Bryant's widow Vanessa paid a tearful tribute to her late 41-year-old husband and middle daughter, saying she could not fathom life without them and describing Bryant as "my everything."
"God knew they couldn't be on this earth without each other," Bryant said in her first public remarks since the January 26 crash. "He had to bring them home together."
"I'll never get to see my baby girl walk down the aisle, have a father-daughter dance with her daddy."
"I watched him play from the beginning."
"I always picked Kobe to play in my video games. I couldn't leave home the day of his passing."