Shaquille O’Neal has made it part of his routine to call Kobe Bryant’s mother once a month since his passing.
Speaking to PEOPLE, the retired NBA star explained, “I always check in on Kobe’s mom. I check in on his mom once a month, make sure she’s okay.”
The habit stems from his memories of Kobe, who often reached out to O’Neal’s parents before his passing.
“Kobe used to check in on my mom and dad,” O’Neal said. Now living in Las Vegas, he feels close to the Bryant family through proximity and personal ties.
“They live in Vegas. I’m in Vegas. I’m close with his sisters. I just call to check on them,” he added.
In recent years, Pamela Bryant has endured the loss of both her son and her husband, and O’Neal has tried to offer comfort.
“Their mom has been through a lot in a couple of years, and that takes a toll, and sometimes you just need somebody to just call to check on you,” he explained.
He acknowledged that while he knows the pain of losing a child as a friend, he cannot fully imagine her grief.
“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, so I’m sure she has a lot of pain that she’s dealing with.”
Beyond regular phone calls, O’Neal also chooses small acts of kindness to show his support.
“I just try to make her smile. I just try to do whatever I can, because I know it’s tough,” he said, noting that he often sends her flowers.
This dedication reflects the bond O’Neal shared with Kobe, one that was complicated at times but always rooted in respect.
