With the tragic passing of Kobe Bryant in January 2020, the NBA world came together in a moment of deep silence and despair. The helicopter crash shattered the entire sporting world. People all over the world mourned Kobe’s death as their own. Many looked at it as a moment that showcased the uncertainty of life. Shaquille O’Neal was one among those.

Recently, Shaquille O’Neal revealed his regret about not resolving his issues with his former teammate. He said that he will never get to see his ex-teammate again and wished that they both could have put aside their differences when they had the chance.

Read More: Shaquille O’Neal, Who Slapped Kobe Bryant and Wrote “How My A** Taste” to Spite Him, Spins a Different Narrative About their Beef All these Years Late

Shaq has one piece of advice for people: “Call your mom. Call your brother. Call the homeboy you used to party with in college. Forever is a long time.”

Just like any other relationship, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal had their ups and downs. In the HBO documentary SHAQ, Big Diesel spoke about Kobe’s death and how it affected him. He admitted that both of them took each other’s time for granted. Since they already had busy schedules, they kept thinking they would meet later. They also thought that they would be present at the 50-year Los Angeles Lakers anniversary. Unfortunately, that did not happen.

A month after Kobe Bryant’s death, a celebration of his life was held at the Staples Center. The court was packed with family, friends, and fans.

Shaquille O’Neal details his bond with Kobe

There were many eulogies from famous NBA players, including Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal. In the speech, Shaq admitted that he and Kobe shared a “very complex relationship”. But he compared that bond to the famous rivalry in the music industry, between John Lennon and Paul McCartney. They brought out the best in each other and eventually changed the course of the industry. Sounds similar to what Kobe and Shaq did to basketball.

In ‘An Evening with Shaq’ interview in August this year, Shaq echoed the same feeling. He said, “I just broke down, the fact that I didn’t even get a chance to talk to him“. He urged people to call and keep in touch with their loved ones.

It is a thought that has stuck with him ever since Kobe’s death.

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It is a cross that Shaquille O’Neal bears and hopes that others don’t have to carry it too.