Shaq Gifts Fan With Laptop After He Offers Condolences For Loss Of Kobe Bryant & Sister

BY Erika Marie 4.9K Views
Link Copied to Clipboard!
Michael Tullberg / Stringer / Getty Images
Shaquille O'Neal
He wanted to repay the act of kindness.

A few nice words earned a random stranger a free, expensive laptop, courtesy of Shaquille O'Neal. The world may be mourning the death of basketball icon Kobe Bryant, but his family and close friends are struggling the most. Kobe's wife, Vanessa Bryant, has shared her grief over losing both her husband and 13-year-old daughter Gianna, and the family members of the seven other fatalities in the helicopter crash are still reeling from the devastating news, as well.

Michael Tullberg / Stringer / Getty Images

Former Los Angeles Lakers star Shaquille O'Neal has publicly shared his grief, even breaking down in tears on NBA on TNT as he remembered his teammate. "I haven't felt a pain that sharp in a while," Shaq said. "Forty-seven-years-old... lost two grandmothers, lost a sarge, lost my sister, and now I lost a little brother."

On Wednesday (January 29), Shaq was out and about, just doing some shopping at a Best Buy in Georgia when a fan named Patrick Martin approached the basketball legend. Patrick walked up to Shaq and said a few words, but his kindness was something that Shaq Diesel appreciated enough to repay.

Patrick wrote about his random run-in on Facebook and it the story soon went viral. "So me and Mo just went to Best Buy to buy a laptop and we meet Shaq," he said. "We gave our condolences for his sister and Kobe. We walked off, then Shaq comes to us and says, I like yall, so get the nicest one in here and I'll pay for it. #RIPAyeshaHarrisonJex #RIPKOBE #MambaMentality."

The thankful fan also shared photos of himself shaking hands with Shaq along with a snapshot of his new computer. Check it out below.


About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.

Comments 2
Page was generated in 0.23493814468384