Advertisement

Shaquille O'Neal mourns the loss of 'my brother' Kobe Bryant

Shaquille O’Neal has responded to the news of the death of Kobe Bryant at age 41.

Bryant died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, near Los Angeles Sunday morning. His 13-year-old daughter Gianna Bryant was reportedly among the nine victims who perished in the crash.

O’Neal won three NBA championships playing alongside Bryant with the Los Angeles Lakers from 2000-02.

He tweeted about the tragedy, of losing his “niece Gigi & my brother” Kobe Bryant shortly after the news broke.

Bryant’s and O’Neal’s relationship was a complicated one, with O’Neal demanding and receiving a trade from the Lakers in 2004 after failed contract negotiations and simmering conflict with Bryant boiled over.

FILE: Shaquille O'Neal mourned the loss of his championship teammate and friend Kobe Bryant on Sunday. (Matt A. Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Shaquille O'Neal mourned the loss of his championship teammate and friend Kobe Bryant on Sunday. (Matt A. Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The trade cut short what looked like an extended dynasty in Los Angeles as Bryant remained with the Lakers for the rest of his career.

The two eventually made amends and were publicly amicable until Bryant’s death.

Remembering Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna (Getty/AP Images)
Remembering Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna (Getty/AP Images)

More from Yahoo Sports: