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Reading: Shaquille O’Neal On His Reaction To Kobe Bryant’s Death: “I’m Like, It Gotta Be A Hoax.”
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Home > NBA News & Analysis > Shaquille O’Neal On His Reaction To Kobe Bryant’s Death: “I’m Like, It Gotta Be A Hoax.”

Shaquille O’Neal On His Reaction To Kobe Bryant’s Death: “I’m Like, It Gotta Be A Hoax.”

Nico Martinez
May 3, 2021
2 Min Read
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NBC News

The death of Kobe Bryant rocked the NBA world to its core. All around the globe, millions of fans, media members, and players joined in mourning the loss of a legend.

And while time has been a great healer for many, there is no forgetting what the moment was like after Bryant’s death.

For Shaquille O’Neal he described his experience in an appearance on “All The Smoke” podcast.

“I see the Kobe thing. So now I’m like, it gotta be a hoax. Because I was watching the game when Bron passed him up, probably just somebody messing around on the internet and then the calls just kept coming in and then you go watch TV. And it just hit.

It put me in a ‘I should have’ mode. I should have spent more time with my sister. I should have reached out to the young fella, I should’ve just called and just check on him, I should’ve. And you know things like that you can never get back, right?”

It was a tough moment for everyone, really, and something that nobody will ever truly forget.

Kobe was more than a player, he was an inspiration, role model, and friend to countless people, not to mention a father and husband to his wife and children.

In the end, though, when we look back on “the Mamba,” it will be positive thoughts of his work ethic and life values that helped make him so famous in the first place.

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TAGGED:Kobe BryantShaquille O'Neal
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ByNico Martinez
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Nico Martinez is a veteran staff writer for Fadeaway World from Brooklyn, New York. He joined Fadeaway World in 2016 and is currently residing in Columbia, South Carolina. Nico holds a degree in Sports Management from Columbia International University where he built a strong foundation in the inner workings of sports media and management. Nico's contributions have significantly enhanced the credibility and depth of Fadeaway World's content, earning him recognition across the sports journalism community. His work has been discussed in prestigious publications like Sports Illustrated. A dedicated follower of LeBron James, Nico often leads coverage on news related to the basketball star. With nearly a decade of experience in sports journalism, Nico consistently provides comprehensive and timely basketball news, engaging a wide audience of basketball enthusiasts.Nico's most desired player to interview, past or present, is Kevin Durant. He is particularly keen on asking Durant if he has any regrets about his career, especially concerning his departure from the Oklahoma City Thunder, and why he engages so much with fans on social media. 
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