WATCH: Shaquille O’Neal Makes an Emotional Crowd Laugh With a Funny Kobe Bryant Story

Shaquille O’Neal brought some change in the mood of an emotional night at Staples Center. People gathered inside the Staples Center for the memorial service in honor of Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven others who lost their lives in a helicopter crash last month.

Kobe and Shaq had formed an impressive partnership during their time together at the Los Angeles Lakers. They were teammates for eight years between 1996 and 2004 before they separated due to a feud. During their time together, they achieved a three-peat that no other team has managed since then.

Also read: Kobe Bryant : A Tribute to Los Angeles Lakers Legend

“Kobe and I pushed one another to play some of the greatest basketball of all time and I am proud that no other team has accomplished what the three-peat Lakers have done since the Kobe and Shaq Lakers,” he said speaking at the memorial service. “You were taken away from us way too soon.”

Shaquille O’Neal tells funny Kobe Bryant story

During his speech, Shaq talked about a time when their teammates complained that Kobe Bryant was not passing the ball. Shaquille said that he went to talk to Kobe.

“I said, ‘There’s no I in team,’ and he said, ‘Yeah, but there’s a M-E in motherfucker,’” Shaq said when the crowd burst into laughter.

Apart from Shaq, another NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan also spoke about Kobe at the memorial service.