Los Angeles Lakers legend Shaquille O'Neal delivered a powerful message to New Orleans Saints players where he urged the team to stay together amid the Drew Brees controversy. The NBA Hall of Famer told the Saints that the national media is going to try and break the team apart, just like they did to him and Kobe Bryant back in the day.
“They're going to try to divide you, just like they divided us with the Lakers! Me and Kobe [Bryant], we had a great thing going, but the media divided our team,” O'Neal said in the message during a virtual team meeting, per ESPN. “We could have won five more championships! Stay strong. Don't let the media divide you! Don't let social media divide you!”
Shaq and Kobe won three titles together on the Lakers. Their relationship, while it wasn't always perfect, was overblown by the media, according to O'Neal.
With that said, Shaq doesn't want to see the Saints turn on Brees after his controversial statement on players kneeling during the national anthem.
For what it's worth, Brees has already apologized to his teammates.
O'Neal discussed being present for the Saints' meeting last Thursday on TNT.
“They said, ‘Drew, we know your character. We know you stepped in some stuff that you can't get out of, but guess what: We want you to do more positive things and less talking.' And they all said we accept your apology,” the Lakers great said said.
Shaq and Kobe patched things up later in their careers. The two NBA legends even had a fun, one-on-one interview a few years ago on NBA TV where they cleared the air for everyone to see.
Shaquille O'Neal was very emotional at Kobe Bryant's public memorial earlier this year. The former Lakers center spoke about the “special relationship” he had with Bryant.
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