Shaquille O’Neal dijelio je svlačionicu s Kobe Bryantom osam godina. Vijest o pogibiji Bryanta i njegove kćeri duboko ga je potresla.

“Ne postoje riječi kojima bih izrazio bol kroz koju sada prolazim nakon što sam izgubio nećakinju Gigi i brata Kobea Bryanta. Volim te i nedostaja ćete mi. Moja suću obitelji Bryant i obiteljima drugih putnika koji su bili u helikopteru. Zlo mi je”, napisao je O’Neal na Twitteru te nastavio:

“Kobe je bio puno više od sportaša, bio je obiteljski čovjek. To je ono što nas je najviše povezivalo. Grlio sam njegovu djecu kao da su moja, a on je grlio moju kao da su njegova. Njegova kćer Gigi rođena je na isti dan kao i moja najmlađa kćer Me’Arah”, napisao je uz fotografije Bryanta i njegove obitelji.

There’s no words to express the pain Im going through with this tragedy of loosing my neice Gigi & my brother @kobebryant I love u and u will be missed. My condolences goes out to the Bryant family and the families of the other passengers on board. IM SICK RIGHT NOW pic.twitter.com/pigHywq3c1

— SHAQ (@SHAQ) January 26, 2020

Kobe was so much more than an athlete, he was a family man. That was what we had most in common. I would hug his children like they were my own and he would embrace my kids like they were his. His baby girl Gigi was born on the same day as my youngest daughter Me’Arah. pic.twitter.com/BHBPN5Wq8V

— SHAQ (@SHAQ) January 26, 2020