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How did Ayesha Harrison-Jex die? Shaquille O'Neal says he 'can't sleep' since sister's death

In HBO's documentary 'SHAQ', O'Neal revealed the deaths of his little sister and Kobe Bryant have taken a toll on his health

BY JASVEEN KAUR

PUBLISHED DEC 30, 2022

Shaquille O'Neal lost his sister Ayesha Harrison-Jex in 2019 (Ethan Miller/Getty Images for Icy Hot)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Shaquille O'Neal lost his sister Ayesha Harrison-Jex in 2019. The NBA star grew up in New Jersey with three siblings - his brother Jamal and two sisters, Ayesha and Lateefah.

Ayesha Harrison-Jex died after a long battle with cancer at the age of 40. She is survived by her son, Bryce. She had been diagnosed with cancer three years before her death. Ayesha graduated with a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Florida A&M University.

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Following the tragic news, Shaq’s co-hosts on 'Inside the NBA' paid tribute to Ayesha during a TNT broadcast that night.

Co-host Ernie Johnson said, “We have to tell you why you’re not seeing Shaquille O’Neal here on the set tonight. Basically the ‘Big Fella’, who I’ve described as ‘the biggest kid in the world’, his heart is breaking tonight. He said his world revolves around his brother and two sisters. And he lost one of his sisters this morning, far too early, at the age of 40, from cancer.”

“I’m trying to put into words the way Shaquille has reacted to this, and he’s struggling. And when he struggles, we struggle with him because he’s one of our brothers and we feel for him tonight,” said Johnson. “She will be laid to rest in a military cemetery and it will be right next to Sergeant Phillip Harrison."

"Big Fella, you hang in there."

Ernie, Kenny, Charles & Commissioner Silver's thoughts are with the O’Neal family pic.twitter.com/5yUtdhjWkZ
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) October 24, 2019

Recently, Shaq partnered with HBO to release a documentary series about his life, titled 'SHAQ'. In the documentary, Shaq revealed that he hasn't been getting much sleep since the deaths of his little sister and his ex-teammate Kobe Bryant.

“I don’t go to bed till 5 AM… Ever since Kobe [Bryant] and my sister died I can’t sleep,” said Shaq.

Shaq:

“I don’t go to bed till 5 AM… Ever since Kobe [Bryant] and my sister died I can’t sleep.”

🥺❤️

(via @HBO) pic.twitter.com/ZQtACr0lRG
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) December 27, 2022

Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks as Shaquille O'Neal #32 of the Phoenix Suns looks on during the NBA game at Staples Center on February 26, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. — Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal during the NBA game at Staples Center on February 26, 2009 in Los Angeles, California (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Bryant died on January 26, 2020 in a helicopter crash in downtown LA.