Shaquille ONeal and Kobe Bryant waged one of the most famous feuds in NBA history for years, only for the former Los Angeles Lakers to slowly make up and then Bryant to die in a helicopter crash in 2020 . Even though their relationship improved before Bryants death, ONeal has huge regrets.

You put off [getting in touch], ONeal told People . Ill never get to see Kobe again, in real life, forever. And I just should have called. He should have called. We both should have called. But hes working, Im working, so its Ill see you when I see you.

While they won three NBA championships as fellow Lakers from 1996 to 2004, their dynastic reign was marked by what coach Phil Jackson called a juvenile feud that included competing over jersey sales and public swipes to the press, per Lakers Nation .

ONeal ultimately demanded to be traded and left the Lakers for the Miami Heat in 2004. While millions mourned the end of that pairing, the two were eventually able to put their differences aside . Bryants death on Jan. 26, 2020, however, led ONeal to reflect on their relationship.

[I thought], Were both going to get old. Well both be at the 50-year Lakers anniversary, ONeal told People. Other things shouldnt have been more important [than getting in touch], but little things [got in the way].