Shaq's Reaction on Kobe Bryant's Death Shows How Important Confronting Grief Is

First Posted: Mar 04, 2020 10:40 AM EST
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Kobe Bryant's recent death was a huge shock to the entire world.
(Photo : reutersconnect)

Kobe Bryant's recent death was a huge shock to the entire world.

The elite basketball star, his daughter, and seven others were killed in a fatal helicopter crash just over one month ago. While their deaths have led to some safety improvements - the Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant Helicopter Safety Act mandates that all helicopters come with a pre-installed awareness system to help prevent accidents like this - the rest of the world is still grieving.

Among the affected are world-famous basketball player Shaquille O'Neal. Shaquille, or Shaq, has long been associated with Bryant. They have been friends, rivals, and teammates over the course of their lives, and were considered as close as brothers.

One of the most emotional and authentic responses to Bryant's death was that of Shaquille. 

Shaquille's Grief Over Bryant's Death

Shaquille and Bryant formed a duo that made headlines around the world more than once. In a time now past, the two were acknowledged as one of the greatest tandems in the entire history of basketball. As friends and teammates, the two helped to bring the Lakers to the top of the championship three times in a row.

While their relationship became tense after Shaq was transferred to Miami Heat, their friendship took precedence and eventually they were able to reconcile their differences. They became so close that Bryant's kids began to refer to him as Uncle Shaq.

Shaq made a very emotional appearance on TNT a few weeks ago, making it very apparent that he was having a hard time coping with his grief. He said that he felt like he'd been stabbed in the heart, and that he hadn't "felt the pain that sharp in a while."

He feels like he has lost a little brother. 

Throughout his whole speech, he was highly emotional. However, he wanted his voice to be heard: when one of the fellow announcers offered him a chance to take a break, Shaq continued to express his feelings.

Shaq has had a rough year. On Thursday, October 24th, his sister died from cancer. The effects of this loss have clearly lingered throughout the year, and the loss of one of his best friends has led Shaq to experience some grief.

The Importance of Working Through Grief

There is a silver lining to Shaquille's expression of grief. It helps the rest of us remember that, even though he's well-known and famous, he's still a human, and that he struggles with the same emotions as the rest of us.

This also outlines the importance of properly working through grief. While Shaq's wounds are still fresh, and it's justified for him to feel this way, it's always important to learn how to process these emotions properly. One of the best ways to do this is through grief counseling.

Grief counseling helps people work through the different stages of grief. These are:

  • Denial, when reality is too painful to accept and it's easier to ignore.
  • Anger, when one is upset and outraged at the experience.
  • Bargaining, a stage in which one hopes that if they make certain changes, things will improve.
  • Depression, a stage in which loss is accepted and an individual becomes depressed.
  • Acceptance, the stage at which a person makes peace with the problem.

Grief counseling doesn't necessarily help you 'get over' grief. However, it can help you work through these difficult stages quickly so you can reach a point where you're comfortable with the associated emotions.

Last Word

Shaq's response to Kobe Bryant's death has reminded us that we're all human, and that it's important for all of us to take care of our emotional health. One of the best ways to do this is through grief counseling.

If you or a loved one are struggling with any form of grief, don't hesitate to reach out to a grief counselor.

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