Shareef O’Neal received a message from Kobe Bryant less than two hours before the Lakers icon died in a helicopter crash. Shaquille O’Neal’s son shared the final messages with his Instagram fans on Tuesday (January 28).
Kobe messaged Shareef at 8:19 AM on Sunday (January 26) to ask if the young athlete was doing well. “You good, fam,” Kobe asked Shareef. It was not until 10:58 AM that Shareef responded with his message.
“Yeah,” the young adult said. “[I’ve] just been getting this work in [and] trying to figure out my next move. How [have] you been,” Shareef asked Kobe in the end. There was no response to the final message.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7y8yLig4zQ/
Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash on Sunday (January 26), which occurred at around 9:43 AM. The iconic NBA player was one of nine victims in the tragedy.
“I wish I didn’t sleep in so I could’ve talked to you,” Shareef shared on Sunday after learning of Kobe Bryant’s death. “I can’t even think straight right now,” O’Neal continued. “I’m glad we got to bond over the years. Not only were you a great uncle you were a coach and a mentor to me too. I love you, man. Thank you for everything you’ve done for this city, for the basketball world, and for me. I won’t let you down. You always counted on me and lifted me up.”
Shareef went through a difficult time last year when a health scare threatened to drastically change his lifestyle. Kobe Bryant messaged the young athlete throughout the challenging time and even made time for a workout in the gym as further motivation to Shareef to keep moving forward.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7zHLhPgqMq/
“You always wanted me to be the best I could be,” Shareef wrote to Kobe. “You always made sure I was happy, you put me before you put yourself, and when we had our moments you made me feel like I was great,” the young star added. “I love you, I thank you, I miss you,” Shareef concluded.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B3ND3AzgUQv/
Kobe Bryant was 41-years-old at the time of his death. Stay tuned for more celebrity family news!
Photo: Shareef O’Neal/Instagram
