Shaquille O'Neal Tweets Tribute to His 'Brother' Kobe Bryant
Shaquille O'Neal took to Twitter in the wake of Kobe Bryant's death and posted an emotional tribute to his former teammate and "brother."
There’s no words to express the pain Im going through with this tragedy of loosing my neice Gigi & my brother @kobebryant I love u and u will be missed. My condolences goes out to the Bryant family and the families of the other passengers on board. IM SICK RIGHT NOW pic.twitter.com/pigHywq3c1
— SHAQ (@SHAQ) January 26, 2020
Kobe was so much more than an athlete, he was a family man. That was what we had most in common. I would hug his children like they were my own and he would embrace my kids like they were his. His baby girl Gigi was born on the same day as my youngest daughter Me’Arah. pic.twitter.com/BHBPN5Wq8V
— SHAQ (@SHAQ) January 26, 2020
Shaq and Kobe shared some incredible moments together on a basketball court as members of the Los Angeles Lakers. They also had an incredibly public falling out that impacted the franchise and the NBA for years. After years of barbs aimed at each other the two men finally reconciled and had seemed to become close.
Kobe and Shaq clearly respected the hell out of each other and after so much turmoil it's amazing the finally became friends. It was a development many welcomed after so much acrimony. It was good for them and good for basketball.
O'Neal's tribute showed how far their relationship had come. It's just been a gut-wrenching day.