Shaquille O'Neal Remembers Kobe Bryant in Heartfelt Memorial Speech: 'We Got Your Back'

(Afp/Afp Via Getty Images)

Shaquille O'Neal is remembering his former teammate, Kobe Bryant.

The NBA legend took the podium at the "Celebration of Life for Kobe and Gianna Bryant" service inside Staples Center on Monday, to deliver a heartwarming speech about the Los Angeles Lakers star, who died in a helicopter crash last month alongside his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven others.

Recommended Videos



"Kobe and I pushed one another to play some of the greatest basketball of all time," said O'Neal, who played for the Los Angeles Lakers with Bryant from 1996-2004. "Kobe and I always maintained a deep respect and love for one another."

"Mamba, you were taken away from us way too soon," he continued. "Just know that we got your back, little brother."

Bryant was drafted to the Lakers in 1996 and played with the team for all 20 years of his professional basketball career until announcing his retirement in 2016. He won five NBA Championships during that time, three of which were won consecutively with O'Neal (2000-2002). 

Kobe Bryant and Shaq O'Neal
MIKE FIALA/AFP via Getty Images

As ET previously reported, Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, were laid to rest in a private funeral held at Pacific View Memorial Park in Corona Del Mar, California. The funeral took place two weeks after they died in a helicopter crash alongside seven others -- Alyssa Altobelli, John Altobelli, Keri Altobelli, Payton Chester, Sarah Chester, Christina Mauser and pilot Ara Zobayan.

"Vanessa and the family wanted a private service to mourn their loss," a source told ET at the time. "The ceremony was extremely hard for everyone as it's still hard for them to grasp they lost two beautiful souls."

Despite having some tension with each other while playing for the Lakers, Bryant and O'Neal appeared to make amends when the Lakers played the Miami Heat in 2006. Bryant and Shaq (who was traded to the Heat in 2004) shook hands and hugged it out before the game. They reunited again as teammates (and co-MVPs) for the NBA All-Star Game in 2009.

When ET spoke with O' Neal back in January, at Shaq's Fun House Big Game Weekend Party in Miami, he opened up about the "one last thing" he wishes he could say to Bryant.

"It's tough because we won't get to have these conversations. I don't really wanna have these conversations with other people. I wanna have them with him," he shared. "When I go to his Hall of Fame, I want to say, 'Congratulations.' When I go to his statue unveiling, I want to say, 'Congratulations.' Next time, I want him to say, 'A-ha! I got five, you got four.' Next time I see him, I want him to go, 'My daughter's 15, your daughter's 15.'"

"As you see, I'mma do it very well here tonight. I'mma just take care of those families, and we also need to have the conversation about them, too," he continued. "'Cause, Kobe, Gigi, of course they're important, but everybody's important. So, my condolences go out to all the other families."

Hear more in the video below.

RELATED CONTENT:

Kobe Bryant Memorial: Alicia Keys' Piano Performance Has a Special Meaning for NBA Star and Wife Vanessa

Shaquille O'Neal's Son Shareef Gets Kobe and Gianna Bryant Tattoos

Shaquille O’Neal Wishes He Could Say ‘One Last Thing’ to Kobe Bryant (Exclusive)

Shaquille O'Neal, Dwyane Wade and More Mourn Kobe Bryant in Tearful NBA Pre-Game Special Tribute