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“It has to be a hoax! Kobe Bryant can’t be gone!”: When Shaquille O’Neal explained his heartbreaking experience of finding out of Lakers star’s tragic passing

Tonoy Sengupta
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"It has to be a hoax! Kobe Bryant can't be gone!": When Shaquille O'Neal explained his heartbreaking experience of finding out of Lakers star's tragic passing

When Shaquille O’Neal opened up on his whole experience on when he got the news of Kobe Bryant’s passing

Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal built what would become the greatest one-two punch in NBA history.

During their time together in the NBA, the two players worked together as the perfect symphony of a wonderful Jazz band. Unfortunately, however, the two were just as inharmonious when they were no longer between the lines.

Fortunately, over time, the two once again built up a relationship together. And perhaps because of that, when Kobe Bryant’s helicopter crash became public news, it was that much more unbelievable for Shaq.

Back in 2020, the former NBA player and Lakers legend sat down to talk about his whole experience during the day the news was breaking across the world. And we won’t lie, it’s a bit of a tearjerker.

Also Read: “LeBron James shouldn’t even sniff 2nd team All-NBA!”: Skip Bayless unloads on Lakers star after franchise’s atrocious season finally crashes and burns for good

 

Shaquille O’Neal reveals he didn’t think the news was true when his sons first told him

Shaquille O’Neal called Kobe Bryant family. So, we can’t imagine the burden his death would have had on the man on its own. But in a cruel act by fate, the Black Mamba’s death wasn’t the only one he had to work through all at the same time.

Take a look at the big fella explaining it all in the YouTube clip below.

Rest in peace Kobe Bryant.

And to Shaquille O’Neal, we can only say how proud we are of you. To face as much as you have in your life and yet to forge on to be the incredibly funny personality you are… it can’t have been easy.

Shaq and Kobe, you will forever have our respect. No matter what.

Also Read: “Kobe Bryant is so handsome, and he has natural teeth!”: When Shaquille O’Neal was hilariously pranked during press conference by Lakers legend during commercial

About the author

Tonoy Sengupta

Tonoy Sengupta

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Tonoy Sengupta is a Senior Editor at The SportsRush. Coming from an athletically inclined family, he has been surrounded by sports ever since he was 4 years old. But, while initially pouring all his time into Football (soccer), at 14, Tonoy discovered basketball through the countless highlights of Stephen Curry humiliating players from Curry Land. And just like that, a fiery passion for the game was ignited within Tonoy. And soon after, he decided to become a student of journalism, graduating in 2022, and choosing sports as his area of interest. Today, you can find him spending 99% of his time browsing through every type of content on every team in the NBA, before uncorking everything he has found to the world. In the 1% he isn't doing this, you can find him playing Basketball, Football, Volleyball, or practically any other sport he has had the opportunity to learn.

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