Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Shaq Opens Up About His Lingering Regret Over His Feud With Kobe Bryant: 'I Should Have Called'

Shaquille O'Neal; Kobe Bryant
Prince Williams/Wireimage/Getty Images; Kevin Winter/Getty Images

The two basketball stars and fellow Lakers were still mending their relationship before Bryant's fatal helicopter crash in 2020.

It's no secret that former LA Lakers Shaquille O'Neal and the late Kobe Bryant were one of the most dynamic duos the NBA has ever seen on the court. The two were teammates from 1996-2004, winning three consecutive championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002 under the coaching of Phil Jackson.

It's also no secret the two publicly feuded for years, allegedly beginning when O'Neal—jealous of Bryant's jersey sales—accused Bryant of playing selfish ball.


The two continued to take jabs at each other over the course of their time together in LA...and a few years after, with O'Neal mocking Bryant's ball handling skills and Kobe commenting on O'Neal's physical fitness.

In 2004, the Lakers traded O'Neal to the Miami Heat, where he led the team to a championship victory. Bryant eventually won two more with LA.

Over the years, the feud between the two faded and their relationship improved. The two even publicly praised each other's successes.

Though they were on good terms before Bryant's death in January of 2020, O'Neal still has regrets.

He told People:

"You put off [getting in touch]."
"I'll never get to see Kobe again, in real life, forever."
"And I just should have called. He should have called. We both should have called."
"But he's working, I'm working, so it's 'I'll see you when I see you.'"

O'Neal continued:

"I [thought], 'We're goth going to get old. We'll both be at the 50-year Lakers anniversary.'"
"Other things shouldn't have bee more important [than getting in touch], but little things [got in the way]."

Fans on Twitter shared their sentiments.







He finished with advice for others with strained relationships:

"Call your mom. Call your brother. Call the homeboy you used to party with in college."
"Forever is a long time."






SHAQ - a four-part HBO docuseries that comes out today, chronicles O'Neal's life, giving fans the opportunity to "meet the man behind the legend."

Though O'Neal will undoubtedly open up about Bryant, Bryant's family has requested that SHAQ limit footage of Bryant.

More from Trending

person lying on bed reading book
Dessidre Fleming on Unsplash

People Who Sleep Naked Describe The Times It Backfired—And Oof

I make it a habit to travel with nice pajamas that I don't mind having other people see.

One reason why is because years ago on a business trip to St. Louis, Missouri, one of the other hotels near where we were staying had a minor fire in the middle of the night.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kate Shaw; Josh Hawley
C-SPAN

Law Professor Bluntly Debunks Hawley's Conspiracy About Why Number Of Trump Injunctions Is So High

On Tuesday, Kate Shaw, law professor at the University of Pennsylvania, testified before a Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing on the role of the federal court system.

The Republican majority focused primarily on federal judges issuing nationwide injunctions that block the unconstitutional executive orders of MAGA Republican President Donald Trump and the Trump administration's illegal or unconstitutional actions.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from @joyfullykrisandra's TikTok video
@joyfullykrisandra/TikTok

Mom Slams Bakery's Epic Fail After Ordering $200 Cake For Son's Graduation Party

The time of year has come for major celebrations, especially among families with graduates in their midst.

For those who want to throw a party to celebrate, they have to prepare one of the central features: a cake.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from @tallertoddlers' TikTok video
@tallertoddlers/TikTok

Woman Horrified After Accidentally Shattering Roommate's $249 Louis Vuitton Chocolate Purse

There are a few "roommate etiquette" rules we should all be able to agree to: don't use or take something that doesn't belong to you, at least without asking; don't eat your roommate's food; and honestly, don't touch their food, especially with your bare hands.

A leading rule, however, should be: If you break something that belongs to your roommate, you should replace it.

Keep ReadingShow less
Patrick Renna in 'The Sandlot'; Patrick Renna stepping up to bat with the Savannah Bananas
20th Century Fox; @thesavbananas/TikTok

'The Sandlot' Star Surprises Baseball Fans By Stepping Up To Bat At Savannah Bananas Game

Millennials everywhere who weren't at a recent Savannah Bananas game will be sent into a nostalgic spiral when they see the video of Patrick Renna, better known as Ham Porter or "The Great Hambino" in the 1993 film The Sandlot, stepping up to bat.

The Savannah Bananas provide the perfect interactive baseball game experience for fans and families, and inviting well-known personalities is just part of their repertoire.

Keep ReadingShow less