Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant helped anchor one of the greatest dynasties in NBA history, though they didn’t always get along while doing so.
Now, more than five years following Bryant’s death in a tragic helicopter crash, his former Los Angeles Lakers running mate is making sure his relatives are doing well.
In an interview with PEOPLE, O’Neal said he keeps in regular contact with members of Bryant’s family, including his mother, Pam.
“I always check in on Kobe’s mom. I check in on his mom once a month, make sure she’s okay,” Shaq said.
“Their mom has been through a lot in a couple of years, and that takes a toll, and sometimes you just need somebody to just call to check on you,” he added. “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.”
It’s a family affair for O’Neal
Kobe’s father Joe “Jellybean” Bryant passed away in July 2024. In addition to checking on the late Hall of Famer’s mother, O’Neal told PEOPLE he also speaks with Kobe’s sisters Sharia and Shaya.
“They live in Vegas. I’m in Vegas. I’m close with his sisters. I just call to check on them,” O’Neal, 53, said.
It’s not surprising that O’Neal keeps up this regular contact–in the past, he has expressed regret over losing touch with Kobe before his death.
‘I just should have called’
In November 2022, O’Neal got candid, lamenting the fact that he did not touch base with Kobe enough before he died.
“You put off [getting in touch],” O’Neal said at the time. “I’ll never get to see Kobe again, in real life, forever. And I just should have called. He should have called. We both should have called. But he’s working, I’m working, so it’s ‘I’ll see you when I see you.’ “
“I just try to make her smile. I just try to do whatever I can, because I know it’s tough.”
Shaquille O’Neal on Pam Bryant.
Despite any beef the two went through during their playing days, there remained a love for each other between Shaq and Kobe.
It became quite clear under the most painful of circumstances, when O’Neal was left having to memorialize his former teammate following Bryant’s death in January 2020.
A memorable speech
Shaq left no doubt how he felt about Kobe, telling the public how much he loved the five-time NBA champion after Bryant’s untimely passing.
At a celebration of Kobe’s life in February 2020, Shaq spoke eloquently and emotionally about the relationship he and Bryant had.
“Kobe and I pushed one another to play some of the greatest basketball of all time … And, yes, sometimes, like immature kids, we argued, we fought, we bantered or insulted each other with off-handed remarks,” O’Neal said in his speech. “But make no mistake, even when folks thought we were on bad terms, when the cameras were turned off, he and I would throw a wink at each other and say, ‘Let’s go whoop some ass.’ “
