VIDEO: Shaq's Reaction to Kobe Bryant's Death on TNT Broadcast is Heartbreaking

Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant talked a lot of smack, but off the court they were bothers, always trying to one-up each other. With Bryant taken from us far too soon, O'Neal is left to wonder what could have been, and if he truly took advantage of Kobe's time with us on Earth as much as he could have. The former Lakers big man contemplated that and more on TNT's live broadcast on Tuesday night before Heat-Celtics.

O'Neal's reaction to this tragedy is entirely heartbreaking.

Shaq and Kobe will forever be associated with one another, even as one trudges onward in his post-basketball life and the other stands as an unfortunate reminder of a life taken far too soon. O'Neal had previously reacted to the news on Instagram a couple of days ago, but to expect the Diesel to go right back to providing solid NBA analysis without mentioning his partner in crime would've been unrealistic. Shaq is human, just like the rest of us.

Bryant's death hit sports fans hard, even though most of us had never met the man they called Mamba. For those like O'Neal, who was lucky enough to play a vital role in Bryant quest to be Like Mike, there is no return to normalcy. At least not yet.