Shaquille O’Neal Recalls Kobe Bryant's Love for Video Games: ‘All He Did Was Stay Home and Play’ (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Shaquille O’Neal (left) and Kobe Bryant on Dec. 10, 2002, in Oakland, Calif.Photo:Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty

Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty

Shaquille O’Nealis reflecting on memories withKobe Bryantwhile making an exciting announcement.

Speaking to PEOPLE about his longtime dream to be featured in the game, the retired NBA legend recalls his late friend Bryant’s love of gaming.

“When I first came [into the NBA], I think it was Sega and all those different games, but yeah, everybody played,” O’Neal shares.

“When Kobe first came in, that’s all he did was stay at home and play video games — it really is something that’s been going on for a long, long time,” he adds of the gaming culture in the NBA, where players often travel with their gaming consoles to away games.

Shaquille O’Neal (left) and Kobe Bryant.David S. Sherman/Getty Images

“I would always play in phases, every now and then we used to have tournaments among the team, but the older I got, the more concentrated I got,” O’Neal explains. “I kind of stepped away from it, but the video game/NBA culture has been combined for a long time.”

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O’Neal says being involved with Fortnite is something he “always wanted to do” — especially after seeing rapperTravis Scottin the game. “I saw they were putting in different people. I remember when Travis Scott got into it, it was really big, and I kind of wanted to do the same thing and they accepted, so it’s very, very exciting.”

The former Laker wasn’t aware that current NBA playersGiannis AntetokounmpoandLeBron Jamesalso have avatars in the game. “I haven’t seen LeBron’s or Giannis' skins, I actually thought I was going to be the first one,” he jokes.

“Now that I’m not the first I’m upset, but I guess I can say I’m the first retired player,” O’Neal compromises, adding that he’d like to see hisInside the NBAco-hosts Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson get avatars in the game next.

In addition to his DJ Diesel avatar, players can choose a Super Shaq avatar. Fortnite says they’ll also add an emote of O’Neal’s infamous shimmy to the game.

O’Neal’s inclusion in Fortnite speaks to the retired athlete’s popularity among a range of demographics, including Gen Z players who weren’t born before he retired from the NBA, pedigree that he credits to being a “nice” person.

He adds, “I try not to sell myself as a perfect person, but as a person that is just like you. So I’m very nice and very respectful. I’m likable. I market myself as myself, and I think that’s why I’m still around.”

source: people.com