Shaquille O’Neal’s Touching Monthly Gesture for Kobe Bryant’s Mother Pam
Originally appeared on The Sporting News
Even years after Kobe Bryant’s tragic passing, Shaquille O’Neal continues to show that some bonds go far beyond basketball. The NBA legend has quietly maintained a heartfelt monthly ritual — one that reveals the depth of his respect for his former teammate and the Bryant family.
In a recent interview with People, the 53-year-old Lakers icon shared that he makes a point to call Pam Bryant, Kobe’s mother, every month to check in on her. “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. The simple gesture, filled with warmth and consistency, has become part of Shaq’s personal way of honoring his late friend’s legacy.
But O’Neal’s kindness doesn’t stop at phone calls. From time to time, he also sends flowers to Pam — a small yet meaningful way to brighten her day and remind her that she’s not alone. “I just try to make her smile. I just try to do whatever I can, because I know it’s tough,” he explained.
The relationship between the two families has always been one of mutual care and respect. Before his untimely death, Bryant made it a habit to check in on O’Neal’s parents as well. “He used to check in on my mom and dad,” Shaq recalled. “They live in Vegas. I’m in Vegas. I’m close with his sisters. I just call to check on them.” That continued bond, he said, feels natural — almost like an extension of the brotherhood the two superstars once shared on the court.
O’Neal also expressed a deep empathy for what Pam Bryant has endured. “Their mom has been through a lot in a couple of years, and that takes a toll,” he said. “Sometimes you just need somebody to just call to check on you. 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. I’m sure she has a lot of pain that she’s dealing with.”
For Shaq, this gesture isn’t about publicity — it’s about humanity. It’s about carrying forward the connection he and Kobe built during their eight unforgettable seasons together with the Los Angeles Lakers, where they captured three NBA championships and defined an era of dominance. Despite their well-documented clashes during their playing days, their relationship evolved into one of mutual admiration and unspoken brotherhood.
Bryant’s death in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, in 2020 — along with his daughter Gianna and seven others — sent shockwaves through the sports world and left an unfillable void in the hearts of millions. For O’Neal, the loss was deeply personal. In the years since, he’s chosen to honor his friend not through grand gestures, but through small, steady acts of compassion — a phone call, a bouquet, a moment of care.
It’s these quiet acts that speak the loudest about who Shaquille O’Neal is today: a man who’s grown beyond the headlines, beyond the rivalry, into someone defined by loyalty and love. And while fans may remember Shaq and Kobe for their dominance on the court, it’s this enduring off-court gesture — one phone call at a time — that keeps their bond alive in the most human way possible.
Leave a Reply