(Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images for MJCI)

Stuart Scott had many sit-down interviews and conversations with Michael Jordan over the years.

Like many ESPN colleagues, athletes and entertainers who reacted to Scott's death on Sunday, after battling cancer since 2007, Jordan took the time to remember Scott, the trendsetting and legendary ESPN anchor.

"I'm so sad to hear the news that Stuart has passed away. He was truly a trailblazer in his field, and by refusing to change his style, made himself into a star," Jordan said in a statement, as reported by ESPN's Darren Rovell. "I always enjoyed sitting down to talk to him. But to me, he wasn't just a broadcaster, he was an old friend, who I'd known since college.

"He fought so hard against cancer and I hoped he'd win the battle," Jordan added. "I send my sincerest condolences to his daughters, Taelor and Sydni, and his family and friends. Boo-yah, my brother."

Jordan and Scott both attended the University of North Carolina, they had a fond Carolina connection that they shared through the years. MJ helped lead the Tar Heels to a national title in 1982 before being selected third by the Chicago Bulls in the 1984 NBA Draft. Scott graduated from UNC in 1987 with a Bachelor of Arts in speech communication.

Upon learning of Scott's death, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant were also two of many NBA players who weighed in on the great loss for the sports world.

"Can't believe you're gone from us! I am deeply saddened because not only will not be replaced as a anchor or reporter but more than that as a genuine cool person," James wrote on his Instagram account. "What u did for our culture, bringing that Swag to reporting can only be copied (which I hear it today on tv watching sports). I would say not because they stealing your swag, it's all out of RESPECT! It was always a breath of fresh fun air when u would show up and we'd chat up. Thank you so much for being u and giving us inner city kids someone we could relate to that wasn't a player but was close enough to them. #RIPStuartScott #GoneButSurelyNotForgotten."

"#StuartScottSayings changed the game #BOOYAH #donthatetheplayerhatethegame R.I.P to a sportscasting Legend," Bryant tweeted.

To read more reaction to Stuart's passing, click here. 

Click here to win a trip to the Super Bowl Gospel Celebration in Phoenix, AZ, plus 4 tickets to the Big Game. 

BET Sports News - Get the latest news and information about African-Americans in sports including weekly recaps, celebrity news and photos of your favorite Black athletes. Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.