Few partnerships in basketball history were as dominant or as complicated as Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant’s. Together, they turned the Los Angeles Lakers into a dynasty, winning three straight NBA titles in the early 2000s.
But behind the banners and parades, their relationship was marked by clashing egos and lingering tension. Nearly six years after Bryant’s death, O’Neal has opened up about a touching gesture he does for the Lakers icon’s mother, one anchored in his deepest regret.
What Gesture Does Shaquille O’Neal Make for Kobe Bryant’s Mother?
In a new interview with People this week, O’Neal admitted the silence between him and Bryant in retirement weighs heavily on him. Though the two had found peace after their playing days, O’Neal said he wishes he had stayed in closer touch. He added that he makes a point of checking in on Bryant’s mother every month.
“(Kobe’s) 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,” O’Neal told Natasha Dye of People. “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. I just try to make her smile.”
Shaq says he calls to check on Kobe Bryant’s mom once a month:
“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… I don’t know what it feels like to lose a son and a husband, so l’m… pic.twitter.com/Ru5eGV5GCT
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) September 13, 2025
This reflection builds on what he shared in a 2022 People interview, when the Hall of Famer admitted that Bryant’s death still weighs heavily on him, especially when he thinks about the relationship they never fully repaired.
“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’… Call your mom. Call your brother. Call the homeboy you used to party with in college. Forever is a long time.”
The gesture shows that while Kobe is gone, Shaq has remained connected to his family, a small but important way of keeping the Bryant bond alive.
How Did Shaq and Kobe Reconcile After Years of Tension?
When O’Neal signed with the Lakers in 1996, he was already a superstar. Bryant, drafted the same summer straight out of high school, was the ambitious newcomer. Their combination on the court was unstoppable: Shaq’s dominance inside and Kobe’s fearless scoring powered Los Angeles to championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002, plus another Finals appearance in 2004.
(2000) Shaq throwing a lob to Kobe
The BEST duo of all-time.
(via @Lakers)
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) August 11, 2025
Yet their clashing personalities fueled one of the league’s most famous feuds. Shaq often complained that Kobe took too many shots and didn’t feed him enough in the post, while Kobe questioned Shaq’s conditioning and commitment to practice.
By 2004, the rift had grown too wide. Following the shocking Finals loss to the Detroit Pistons, the Lakers traded Shaq to Miami, ending the dynasty. Each went on to win more titles separately, Kobe with the Lakers in 2009 and 2010, and Shaq with the Heat in 2006, but the “what if” lingered for years.
Their reconciliation came in steps. At the 2009 All-Star Game in Phoenix, the two were named co-MVPs and shared hugs, chest bumps, and laughter, a sharp contrast to their earlier tension. Shaq later recalled on The Big Podcast with Shaq that Bryant told him afterward, “Thank you, big fella. You always stayed on my a**, and I love you for that.”
In 2013, O’Neal told Slam that the feud was misunderstood: “I think it’s a real misunderstood misconception that we hate each other. They don’t understand that it’s business. Whenever you have two Alpha Males like me and Kobe, you’re going to disagree from time to time, but we never hated each other.”
But the most meaningful moment came in 2018, when they sat down for TNT’s Players Only special. They admitted their egos often got in the way but agreed they wouldn’t have won three straight titles without pushing each other to the limit.
Today, years after Bryant’s death, O’Neal continues to honor his former teammate not just as a basketball partner but as family. His regret of not making the call lingers, but his monthly check-ins with Bryant’s mother are his way of keeping the bond alive.
