Shaquille O’Neal has never been shy about showing his softer side, but his latest revelation hits right in the heart. The 53-year-old NBA legend recently shared that he makes it a point to check in with Pamela Bryant, the mother of his late Lakers teammate Kobe Bryant, every month.
During their eight seasons together on the Los Angeles Lakers, O’Neal and Kobe won three consecutive championships. But beyond the iconic alley-oops and locker-room headlines, there was a bond that extended into family. O’Neal revealed to PEOPLE that Kobe used to regularly check in on his parents. Now, in return, he makes it his mission to look after Kobe’s mom.
“I always check in on Kobe’s mom. I check in on his mom once a month, make sure she’s okay,” O’Neal said. “They live in Vegas. I’m in Vegas. I’m close with his sisters. I just call to check on them.” That simple act of consistency has become a lifeline for Pamela Bryant, who endured not only the loss of her son Kobe in January 2020 but also her granddaughter Gigi Bryant and, most recently, her husband Joe Bryant in July 2024.
Empathy Through Loss
O’Neal knows grief, but he admits he can’t fully understand the depth of Pamela’s pain. “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,” he said. “I’m sure she has a lot of pain that she’s dealing with.”
That’s why his check-ins aren’t just about conversation. Sometimes, they’re flowers. Sometimes, it’s just to make her smile. “I just try to do whatever I can, because I know it’s tough,” O’Neal explained.
A Lesson Learned the Hard Way
This isn’t the first time O’Neal has reflected on the importance of staying connected. In a 2022 PEOPLE cover story, he admitted that he and Kobe let little things get in the way of reaching out during their playing days and beyond. “I thought we’d both get old, both be at the 50-year Lakers anniversary,” O’Neal recalled. “But little things got in the way. I should have called. He should have called. We both should have called.”
That regret has fueled his commitment to never take time or relationships for granted again. His advice is simple but powerful: “Call your mom. Call your brother. Call the homeboy you used to party with in college. Forever is a long time.”
A Strained Relationship
In 2024, before Joe's passing, the couple made headlines after Kobe Bryant’s fans discovered that his first NBA championship ring was up for auction. Emotions ran high when Bryant’s parents offered the highest bidder an artifact of hard work and dedication.
In 2000, Kobe Bryant won his first NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers, marking the start of an illustrious career that would eventually see him capture five NBA titles. To celebrate this significant accomplishment, Kobe gifted his father, Joe, his original championship ring, while his mother, Pamela, received a replica.
The original ring is a piece crafted from 14-karat gold and adorned with 40 diamonds. But this wasn't the first time Kobe’s parents had attempted to sell items from his career.
The controversy surrounding the auction was intensified by the strained relationship between Kobe Bryant and his parents. Reports suggested that tensions arose when Kobe began dating Vanessa Bryant, ultimately leading to his parents' absence from their wedding in 2001. Despite occasional attempts at reconciliation, including a public apology from Joe and Pamela after a previous auction of Kobe’s memorabilia, their relationship remained strained.
Vanessa Bryant is keeping Kobe’s legacy current
In 2024, the Los Angeles Lakers’ Crypto.com Arena had a ceremony to unveil a bronze statue of the late NBA star outside the sports complex. The ceremony was attended by Vanessa Bryant and their surviving daughters: Capri Kobe, Bianka Bella, and Natalia Bryant.
Vanessa, who tied the knot with Kobe in 2001, delivered a heart-wrenching speech at the ceremony. She also revealed her plans to debut two more statues, one of which would also feature Gianna, who tragically passed away in the same helicopter crash that killed Kobe on January 26, 2020.