Las Vegas — Retired Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O’Neal says he reaches out to Kobe Bryant’s mother, Pamela Bryant, every month to see how she is coping in the years since her son’s death.
“I always check in on Kobe’s mom,” the 53-year-old Hall of Famer told People. “I make sure she’s okay.”
O’Neal and Kobe Bryant won three NBA championships together during eight seasons with the Lakers. Their relationship, once strained, evolved into a close friendship before Bryant’s fatal helicopter crash in January 2020.
Continuing a Tradition of Caring
O’Neal said Bryant frequently called his parents before 2020, and he now feels honored to return the gesture for the Bryant family. Pamela Bryant and her daughters, Sharia (49) and Shaya (48), live in Las Vegas, where O’Neal also resides.
“Their mom has been through a lot in a couple of years, and that takes a toll,” O’Neal explained, noting that Pamela not only lost her son but also her husband, former NBA player Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, who died in July 2024. “Sometimes you just need somebody to call and check on you.”
In addition to monthly phone calls, O’Neal sends flowers to Pamela Bryant. “I just try to make her smile,” he said.
Defending Bryant’s Legacy
O’Neal continues to publicly champion Bryant’s place among basketball’s all-time greats, recently voicing frustration when the five-time champion was ranked 11th on a list of the best NBA players ever.
Despite his post-retirement ventures and broadcasting career, O’Neal emphasized that looking after Bryant’s family remains a priority: “I just try to do whatever I can, because I know it’s tough.”
Source: LakersNation.com
