Brotherhood! Shaquille O'Neal calls Kobe's mother every month: She is deeply hurt after losing her son and husband consecutively.

On September 14th Beijing time, during a recent exclusive interview with People magazine, O'Neal discussed the deep connection he shares with Kobe's mother, Pam Bryant. He disclosed that he continues to maintain contact with Kobe's family, particularly his mother.

"I always keep in touch with Kobe's mother, calling her monthly to ensure she is okay," O'Neal said. He added that Kobe often stayed in contact with his own parents while alive, so he feels honored to now do the same for Kobe's family.

"They live in Las Vegas, and I also reside in Las Vegas. I have a close relationship with Kobe's sisters and often call to check on them... Over the past few years, Kobe's mother has been through so much. These hardships can be mentally and physically exhausting, and sometimes all you need is a phone call to remind you that someone cares," O'Neal explained.

"I can somewhat understand the pain of losing a son, but I cannot fully grasp the agony of losing both a son and a husband. I know she must still be carrying tremendous grief," he said.

"What I can do is try to bring her some happiness... In this life, I will never see Kobe again in person. Honestly, I should have called him more, and he should have called me more. We both should have taken the initiative to reach out. But back then, he was busy with his things, and I was busy with mine, so we always thought, 'We'll catch up when we have time'... Call your mom, call your brother, and call your college buddies," he reflected.

Kobe's mother indeed suffered consecutive blows — after Kobe passed away in a helicopter crash in 2020, his father Joe Bryant died from a stroke in July 2024.

When mentioning iconic NBA duos, the names O'Neal and Kobe will never be forgotten. This pair won three NBA championships together, leading the Lakers to become the second team in modern league history to achieve a "three-peat." Although their playing careers saw tensions due to conflicts, they eventually resolved their differences through a legendary one-on-one conversation, restoring their brotherly bond. Clearly, sharing such a profound past creates not only close ties between players but also connections with each other’s families.

There were also reports earlier that O'Nealrestored Kobe’s high school car and personally presented it to Kobe’s mother.

NBA fans were deeply moved when they learned that O'Neal continues to support Kobe’s family, and the character revealed behind these thoughtful gestures —

"O'Neal is amazing; people don't realize what a great person he is."

"This is so heartwarming and sincere, reminding us to cherish the loved ones still with us."

"O'Neal’s words really hit home... teaching us never to take our family’s presence for granted."

"O'Neal is like Kobe’s big brother, doing his utmost to care for his family."