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3 Years After Tragic Demise, Gigi Bryant’s Special Day Becomes a Bitter Sweet Moment for Shaquille O’Neal’s Family

Published 05/02/2023, 3:54 PM EDT

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It’s been more than three years since the Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna (Gigi) Bryant left this world. The father-daughter duo, along with seven others, passed away tragically in a Calabasas helicopter crash on January 26, 2020. Gigi would’ve been 17 years old on May 1 this year. The Mambacita received birthday wishes on her special day from many, including Shaquille O’Neal‘s family members.

What was once considered a blissful day has now turned into a bitter-sweet day for not only the Bryant family but also for many fans and family friends, like Shaq’s family. The Big Diesel considered Kobe as his brother and even acknowledged their families’ close bonds in the past. The four-time NBA champion’s family recently brightened up their day by attending a certain ceremony.

Shaq’s family members attend a ceremony after Shareef wished Gigi on her birthday

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A sea of people wished Gigi on her special day and Shaq’s eldest son Shareef was among them. The 23-year-old turned to his Instagram story and posted a picture of her with a caption, “HAPPY BIRTHDAY GIGI”.

Following this, Shareef and his family experienced a treasured moment and turned their relatively sad day into somewhat fulfilling. The four-time NBA champion’s son shared a post of pastor Keion Henderson, the current husband of his mother, Shaunie Henderson.

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Keion shared a number of images as they performed the ceremony of child dedication to God. He captioned the post, “Yesterday I had the pleasure of dedicating 11 babies back to the Lord. Among the 11, was Jacoby Childs ( @jacobydeuce ), the godson to my wife @iamshaunie and I. @raquel_monique_ @jesse__childs. And even though your children were not at the altar with us, I pronounce the same blessing over you and yours. They shall live and not die. I plead the blood of Jesus over their lives, and I declare protection over your little ones wherever they shall go. No weapon formed against them shall prosper.”

In the photo first, the 2006 NBA champion Gary Payton’s grandson can be seen in Shaunie’s hands as she posed for a photo beside her husband. He was one of those 11 babies who were dedicated to God. The next couple of photos showed Shaq’s sons: Shareef, Myles and Shaqir posing for a photograph with Shaunie, Keion and Payton along with her daughter and son-in-law.

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Judging from the photos, Shaq’s sons enjoyed their time with their mom and her new husband. So, does Shaq have an amicable relationship with his ex-wife’s husband? Let’s take a look!

Shaq has a good relationship with Keion Henderson

In a 2022 interview, Keion said he and the Big Diesel didn’t meet in person because of their busy schedule. The 41-year-old further confessed that there was no bad blood between them and he looked forward to meeting with him in the near future. Moreover, the pastor said both of them didn’t have anything to compete about. It’s clear that they don’t have any ill feelings for each other but it’s unknown whether they were able to meet in person after the interview.

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What are your thoughts on Keion Henderson having an amicable relationship with Shaquille O’Neal? Let us know in the comments below.

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Written by:

Ayush Roy

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Ayush Roy is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports, with a keen interest in trades and matchups. He has contributed over 500 articles to date, showcasing his expertise in the field. Ayush's favorite activity, apart from writing about teams in the NBA, is diving deep into the economics of the popular league.
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Edited by:

Satagni Sikder