“Words Can’t Describe The Pain I’m Feeling” : Michael Jordan Remembers “Little Brother” Kobe Bryant in Sorrowful Statement

A few somber words from the NBA great.

Michael Jordan is the latest to send out his remembrances of fellow NBA legend, Kobe Bryant, who died this morning along with his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, in a fatal helicopter crash outside of Calabasas, CA.

READ: NBA Legend Kobe Bryant Killed in Helicopter Crash

In a short statement delivered via ESPN‘s Wayne Drehs, Jordan refers to the late Laker guard as his “little brother,” briefly reflecting on his career, a profound love of family, and their off-court relationship. “He was a fierce competitor, one of the greats of the game and a creative force,” Jordan says in the statement. You can read it below.

Bryant and his daughter were confirmed dead this afternoon along with six other passengers and the helicopter’s pilot, all of which were “determined to be perished” by paramedics upon arrival, according to LA County Fire Chief, Daryl Osby.

READ: From Shaquille O’Neal to Drake, NBA Fans React to the Shocking Death of Kobe Bryant

Jordan joins an outpouring of sentiment and sorrow across social media from those who knew him in the league and outside of it on what Barack Obama described as “an unthinkable day” in his own statement.