Jack Nicholson has made a rare public statement paying tribute to long-time friend Kobe Bryant following the basketball legend’s tragic death.
The LA Lakers icon was travelling in a private helicopter alongside 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven other people when it crashed, killing everyone on board.
Speaking in to sports broadcaster Jim Hill, Nicholson said: “My reaction is the same almost all of LA - suddenly where everything was solid there’s a big hole - I was so used to seeing and talking to Kobe... it just kills you - it’s just a terrible event.
“I remember him as so talented and how a great player he was.
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“I teased him the first time we met. I offered him a basketball and asked him did he want me to autograph it for him he looked at me like I was crazy.”
Asked about Bryant’s sense of humour, Nicholson responded: “He got all the jokes, that’s for sure.”
The Hollywood legend is a known LA Lakers fan and has held court side seats at their games for many years. Having made his last film appearance in 2010’s How Do You Know and his last TV appearance in 2016, Nicholson has become an increasingly reclusive figure.
Although he told The Sun in 2013 he hasn’t retired from acting, he admitted he had retired from hitting on women. He pulled out of the English-language remake of German comedy Toni Erdmann in 2018, but the actor has not committed to any other acting projects since.
He said of watching Bryant: “I sat right behind his jump shot on the left hand side I could see him going up and I could tell in the first instance if it was in.
“We’ll think him all the time and well miss him - he was just one of those touched people.”
Read more: Jamie Foxx shares Kobe Bryant clip as tributes continue to pour in for NBA star
Loving tributes have been pouring in for the 41-year-old, with comments from the world of sport, entertainment and politics all paying respect to Bryant.
Singer Alicia Keys opened the 2020 Grammy awards with a heartfelt song dedicated to Bryant, just hours after his death was announced.
The incident has shocked the globe, and stars have been coming forward to pay tribute to the athlete.
