Shaquille O’Neal reveals Kobe Bryant and his little sister’s death haunt him at night

Shaquille O’Neal has admitted that he doesn’t get much shut-eye these days, two and three years on respectively from the deaths of his little sister and ex-teammate Kobe Bryant. 

Appearing on a recently made HBO documentary about his life, titled ‘SHAQ’, the 50-year-old former Los Angeles Laker revealed that the deaths of his terminally ill little sister, Ayesha Harrison-Jex, from cancer at 40-years-old in 2019 and Bryant’s sudden death in a helicopter crash in downtown LA in 2020 still haunt him to this day.

‘I don’t go to bed till 5:00am… Ever since Kobe [Bryant] and my sister died I can’t sleep,’ he said. 

Shaquille O’Neal’s revealed that the deaths of his sister and Kobe Bryant keep him up at night

O’Neal made the remarks on a recently made HBO documentary about his life, titled ‘SHAQ’

O’Neal and Bryant won three back-to-back NBA championships together, famously known as the Lakers’ ‘Three Peat’, between 2000 and 2002. 

There were constant rumors, however, of one of the most dominant duos ever in the league arguing before and after the games, prompting O’Neal to join the Miami Heat in 2004. 

Contrary to what many NBA fans thought was the end of a fractious relationship between the ‘Black Mamba’ and ‘Shaq,’ the pair had mutual respect for each other long after playing together in Los Angeles. 

When Bryant dropped 60 points in his final NBA game against the Utah Jazz in April 2016, Shaq sat courtside to witness the shooting guard’s magic one last time. 

Bryant (left) holding the Larry O’Brian trophy and O’Neal with the Finals MVP trophy in 2000 

O’Neal witnessed Bryant drop 60 points against hte Utah Jazz in his final NBA game in 2016

He also commonly referred to Bryant as his ‘little brother’ and considered him family, as portrayed in his speech at ‘Bean’s’ funeral from three years ago. O’Neal is left with the regret of not reaching out to him.

It’s also believed that had a close relationship with his younger sister, who had been battling cancer for three years before her death, according to TNT’s ‘Inside the NBA’ host Ernie Johnson. 

‘Trying to put into words the way Shaquille has reacted to this and he’s struggling and when he struggles, we struggle with it,’ he said live on air in front of the show’s other commentators, NBA legends Kenny ‘The Jet’ Smith and Charles Barkley. 

‘Because he’s one of our brothers and we feel for him tonight. Hearts are broken in Shaq’s family and in our families as well.’ 

NBA commissioner Adam Silver was also on the broadcast and sent his condolences to the O’Neal family at the time. 

‘From everyone in the league, but obviously from me personally, my condolences to Shaq and I know for all of you, you’re hurting because you’re all so close to each other.’

O’Neal was selected to be inaugurated into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016. He won four NBA rings and is a three-time NBA Finals MVP. The 50-year-old also recently revealed his 40-pound weight loss and that his goal is to be in an underwear ad with his sons Shareef, Shaqir and Myles.