Shaquille O’Neal, who sobbed inconsolably after Kobe Bryant’s death, has a heartwarming reaction to Lakers ‘finally’ unveiling his statue

Shaquille O'Neal and the late. Kobe Bryant enjoyed immense success during their playing days with the LA Lakers team.

Shaquille O’Neal, who sobbed inconsolably after Kobe Bryant’s death, has a heartwarming reaction to Lakers ‘finally’ unveiling his statue

Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal (Via Sports Illustrated Vault)

On February 8th, the Los Angeles Lakers will immortalize Kobe Bryant by unveiling a statue outside the team’s home arena before they face the Denver Nuggets. This gesture marks a significant moment for the five-time NBA champion, who will join an elite group of former Lakers including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, Magic Johnson, Elgin Baylor, and Jerry West. As Shaquille O’Neal and his TNT crew discussed the significance of this event and Bryant’s impactful career with the Lakers, they paid tribute to the late Black Mamba.

During their time with the Lakers, Shaquille O’Neal and Bryant enjoyed a great friendship and partnership. Their bond was evident on and off the court, however, their relationship faced challenges, leading to a fracture. Despite this, they eventually reconciled and mended their friendship, demonstrating resilience and mutual respect. Overall, their partnership was characterized by its wholesomeness and enduring strength.

YouTube video

In the latest episode of ‘NBA on TNT’, O’Neal opened up about the deep emotions stirred by the commemoration, reflecting on their tenure together. He said,

FS Video
I’m honored to have played with him. This is a no brainer. We knew he was going to get his jerseys retired you knew it was going to be a Kobe statue.

The statue pays tribute to the legend, honoring his remarkable contributions and unforgettable career with the Los Angeles Lakers, thereby celebrating his life and legacy. Moreover, his talent, work ethic, and passion for the game have inspired many athletes and fans worldwide. The statue serves as a reflection of that inspiration for future generations.

Lakers to wear Black Mamba uniforms against Denver Nuggets after Kobe Bryant statue unveiling

Following the unveiling of Kobe Bryant’s statue at Star Plaza outside of Crypto.com Arena, the Los Angeles Lakers announced that they will wear their Black Mamba uniforms during their game against the Denver Nuggets.

skysports-lebron-james-los-angeles-lakers_5134075
LeBron James wearing the Lakers Black Mamba jersey (via Open Source/X)

Inspired by Bryant’s legendary career with the Lakers, the team originally debuted the Black Mamba uniforms as their first City Edition uniforms in the 2017-18 season.

Bringing back the uniform is another way for the Lakers to honor Bryant on his special day, which will be filled with memorable tributes. Throughout his 20 seasons with the Lakers, Kobe was an 18-time NBA All-Star and a five-time NBA Champion.

In case you missed it: