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          NBA stars react to Episodes 5 and 6 of 'The Last Dance'

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          'Last Dance' director details complex interview with Kobe (3:00)

          Director Jason Hehir explains why Kobe Bryant was such a complex individual to interview during the filming of "The Last Dance". (3:00)

          • ESPN.com
          May 3, 2020, 11:22 PM ET

          ESPN aired Episodes 5 and 6 of "The Last Dance" on Sunday, and the documentary series dove into everything from Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant meeting in the 1998 All-Star Game to the birth of Nike's Air Jordan brand to the 1992 and 1993 NBA Finals to stories behind the Dream Team to Jordan's ascension as the most recognizable athlete in the world.

          Players across the league went to Twitter to show their love for Kobe, reminisce about Jordan's debut signature sneaker and look back at the time when everyone wanted to "Be Like Mike."

          MORE: The iconic sneakers that defined Michael Jordan's title runs

          Episode 5 opened at the 1998 All-Star Game, which was Jordan's final as a Chicago Bull and Bryant's first. Watching a young Kobe take on MJ brought back memories of the Hall of Fame Los Angeles Lakers guard.

          Who could imagine MJ signing with any company other than Nike? Well, it almost happened, as Jordan revealed that his first choice for a shoe deal was Adidas. Players had trouble imagining the Air Jordan coming from any manufacturer but the Swoosh.

          We also got to see what it was really like to "Be Like Mike" in the '90s, including Jordan having his own space inside the Bulls' locker room, becoming a worldwide staple in commercials, selling out football arenas and running into the biggest actors of the era.

          The 1992 NBA Finals saw the famous shrug in Game 1, in which Jordan hit six 3-pointers and scored 35 points in the first half. A postgame image of John Michael Wozniak -- a former Bulls security guard who died in January -- reenacting the famous pose dominated social media following the episode.

          Jordan's manager and spokeswoman, Estee Portnoy, shared her appreciation via Twitter.

          The 1993 NBA Finals pinned Jordan's Bulls against Charles Barkley and the Phoenix Suns. Barkley showcased the game that made him MVP that season, but the Suns lost in six games. For players who were not yet born or were too young to remember Sir Charles' prime, this portion of the documentary served as a reminder of how dominant Barkley was.

          MORE: Big takeaways from Episodes 5 and 6 of "The Last Dance"