Nobody ever talks about iconic NBA duos without mentioning Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. The duo won three NBA championships together, leading the Lakers to become the second team in modern league history to have a three-peat.
While the relationship between the players got strained over their playing careers, they finally resolved their issues in a legendary one-on-one conversation, restoring their brotherhood to where it was originally. Of course, when you share such a deep history, players are bound to meet and develop a relationship with each other’s families.
Now, years after Bryant’s unfortunate demise in the helicopter crash that broke the hearts of his millions of fans, O’Neal reveals he still stays in touch with Bryant’s family, especially his mother. In a recent exclusive with People, O’Neal spoke about his bond with Bryant’s mother, Pam Bryant.
“I always check in on Kobe’s mom. I check in on his mom once a month, make sure she’s okay.” O’Neal adds that Bryant “used to check in on my mom and dad,” and he’s humbled to do the same for Bryant’s family.
“They live in Vegas. I’m in Vegas. I’m close with his sisters. I call to check on them… Their mom has been through a lot in a couple of years, and that takes a toll, and sometimes you just need somebody just to call to check on you,” O’Neal explains.
“I kind of know what it feels like with the passing of her son, but I don’t know what it feels like to lose a son and a husband, so I’m sure she has a lot of pain that she’s dealing with.”
Kobe Bryant’s mother lost her husband in July 2024 as Joe Bryant passed away after suffering a stroke at age 69. NBA fans got very emotional when they read about what O’Neal is still doing for the Bryant family and how his small gestures go a long way in showing who he is as a person.
“W Shaq man, people don’t realize how good a guy he is.”
“That’s powerful and heartfelt. A reminder to cherish loved ones while we still can.”
“Shaq opening up like this hits deep… a reminder to never take our loved ones for granted.”
“Shaq is doing his best as a big brother to Kobe.”
Various such reactions flooded social media after O’Neal revealed his connection with the Bryant family to this day.
While players may now debate on what they could have done in Kobe Bryant’s position, it will never change the fact that O’Neal and Bryant were fuel for nightmares of their opponents in their prime. And that bond on the court between these two Lakers legends shows that Bryant and O’Neal have cemented their legacy not just as players but as role model humans for future generations to emulate.
