Double Tap to Zoom

During a pre-game special on TNT, Shaquille O'Neal opened up about losing former teammate Kobe Bryant, and what he had to say is making fans more emotional than they were already.

In the interview, O'Neal recalls how he first heard about Bryant's passing and the affect it has had. "I haven't felt a pain this sharp in a while. I lost a little brother." O'Neal then called Gianna Bryant's passing — who he considered a niece — the "final blow."

Towards the end, a tearful O'Neal explained how Bryant's death has served as a lesson to check in with his friends more often. "We work a lot and we take stuff for granted. I don't talk to you guys as much as I need to. The fact that we're not going to be able to joke at his Hall of Fame ceremony. The fact we’re not gonna be able to say, ‘Ha, I got five, you got four. Those are the things you can’t get back."

Watch Shaq's emotional speech below,and scroll down to read the fans' reactions.

We Recommend
  • Nike’s Latest Crisp Baller Is Serving Big Kid Energy
  • Nike’s Newest Kobe Baller Is a Triple-Word Score for Caitlin Clark
  • A Beautiful Buttery Nike Air Force 1 for an Iconic Kobe Moment
  • Nike's Super Nice AF1s Have Kobe Byrant Written All Over Them
  • The Most Iconic Outdoor Basketball Courts Around the World
What To Read Next
  • This Unexpected Collab Gave Us the Midnight Munchies
  • Even Jil Sander's Cleanest Clothes Have Complexes (EXCLUSIVE)
  • Nike’s Latest Game-Ready AF1 Just Made Accessorizing a Sport
  • The Surprise Star of the World Cup? Haaland’s Birkin Collection
  • New Balance's Healthiest Dad Sneaker Is an Erewhon-Level Snack