I’ll be sure to teach Natalia, Bianca, and baby Capri all your moves, and I promise I will not teach them my free throw techniques. Finally, capping off one of several tributes that spoke about Kobe’s heart, hustle, and what he would have accomplished later in his life to the 20,000-plus people in attendance—O’Neal said goodbye. Shaq and Kobe were teammates on the Los Angeles Lakers for eight years, and won three NBA titles together. At Kobe and Gigi Bryant's memorial, Shaquille O'Neal gave a moving, heartfelt speech. The next chapter of life was just beginning, and now it’s time for us to continue your legacy. Monday, on 2/24, Staples Center played host to a memorial service and celebration of life for Kobe and Gianna Bryant.
The moment occurred while Shaq was telling a story about Kobe’s teammates urging him to pass the ball.
And O’Neal’s speech was just as moving as his TNT memorial, bringing his signature heart and humor to those who knew the Bryants.“Mamba, you were taken away from us way too soon,” O’Neal said. But for now, I take comfort in the fact that as we speak, Kobe and Gigi are holding hands and walking to the nearest basketball court. Kobe and Gigi Bryant’s celebration of life at Staples Center was a touching tribute to the Lakers legend and his 13-year-old daughter. Rest in peace, Kobe.” It was one of many incredible tributes to Bryant on the afternoon, as the league gathered to pay respects to his legacy on and off the court. Shaquille O’Neal gave an awesome speech at the memorial service held for Kobe Bryant and Kobe’s daughter, Gianna, on Monday. I’ll teach Natalia, Bianca, and baby Capri all your moves,” he said.
“I’ll look after things down here.
Esquire participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. "As many of the other speakers did, Shaq brought the crowd’s spirits up with a bit of good-hearted humor, taking a self-deprecating jab at his legendarily poor free throw shooting skills. "I take comfort in the fact that as we speak, Kobe and Gigi are holding hands, walking to the nearest basketball court.”One of the most honest, heartbreaking, and memorable remembrances was from Shaquille O’Neal, who played with Kobe on the Lakers from 1996 to 2004, winning three championships during that time. Shaquille O'Neal joked that his former Los Angeles Lakers teammate Kobe Bryant once told him there is an "M-E" in team after his teammates complained that Bryant was not passing the ball enough. Kobe’s most famous teammate, Shaquille O’Neal, also stepped to the podium to deliver a speech about Bryant, and in a way only Shaq can, he brought some laughter and levity to the day. You said yourself that everything negative — pressure, challenges — was all an opportunity for me to rise. Kobe tribute: Shaq drops F-bomb in perfect story about Kobe Bryant “But for now, I take comfort in the fact that as we speak, Kobe and Gigi are holding hands, walking to the nearest basketball court,” he said. “Your next chapter of life was just beginning, but now it’s time for us to continue your legacy. “And I promise I will not teach her my free throw techniques.”As he neared the end of his tribute, O’Neal offered a beautiful image: Kobe and Gigi Bryant, a father who was teaching his daughter everything he knew about the game he loved, walking hand in hand to the hardwood. You said yourself that everything negative—the pressure, the challenges—is all opportunity for me to rise. Just know that we got your back, little brother. Kobe will show here some new Mamba moves today, and Gigi will soon master them. This content is imported from YouTube. It featured heartfelt speeches from the likes of Kobe’s most famous teammate, Shaquille O’Neal, also stepped to the podium to deliver a speech about Bryant, and in a way only Shaq can, he brought some laughter and levity to the day.
Here's what Shaq had to say about his friend and former Los Angeles Lakers teammate. “Kobe, you’re heaven’s MVP, I love you, my man—’til we meet again.”
"There's no I in team," Shaq recalls telling Bryant. Shaquille O’Neal spoke about his former Lakers teammate at Kobe and Gianna Bryant’s public memorial Monday at Staples Center. Even though the two On Monday afternoon, at Kobe and Gigi’s memorial service at Los Angeles’s Staples Center, Shaq was one of several people—including Vanessa Bryant, Michael Jordan, and Diana Taurasi—to take the stage to honor the late father and daughter. “Mamba, you were taken away from us way too soon. Read Shaquille O’Neal’s speech at Kobe Bryant’s memorial. The day Kobe gained my respect was the guys were complaining, saying, ‘Shaq, Kobe’s not passing the ball.’ I said, ‘I’ll talk to him.’ I said, ‘Kobe, there’s no I in team,’ and he said, ‘I know but there’s an M-E in that motherf*cker.’ So I went back and told Rick and Big Shot Bob, ‘Just get the rebound, he’s not passing.’ Shaq would then give the assembled crowd a call to action at the end of his speech, saying it’s on us to continue on Kobe’s legacy going forward and heed his words on overcoming challenges and seeing them as opportunity.
Although Shaq kept his speech brief, it was a much-needed lighthearted moment that exemplifies the multi-faceted person that made Kobe Bryant who … So we now take that sage advice to now rise from anguish, and begin with the healing.