Shaquille O’Neal’s sister Ayesha Harrison-Jex has died at 40 following cancer battle and his TNT colleagues pay heartfelt tribute
Shaquille O’Neal’s sister Ayesha Harrison-Jex has died at 40 following a cancer battle, three years after her diagnosis.
The former Los Angeles Laker, 47, did not appear in his regular slot on TNT’s Inside the NBA Thursday amid the family tragedy, as he remained with relatives in Orlando, Florida.
The 7ft1 hoops legend’s TNT co-host Ernie Johnson shared the heartbreaking news amid warm words and condolences in his colleague’s family tragedy.
![Background: Harrison-Jex was mother to a son named Bryce and graduated from Florida A&M](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/10/25/05/20163920-7612061-Background_Harrison_Jex_was_mother_to_a_son_named_Bryce_and_grad-a-58_1571976084073.jpg)
Tragic: Shaquille O’Neal’s sister Ayesha Harrison-Jex has died at 40 following a cancer battle, three years after her diagnosis
‘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,’ Johnson said on the broadcast.
Harrison-Jex was mother to a son named Bryce and graduated from Florida A&M with both bachelor’s and master’s degrees, according to Johnson.
‘Trying to put into words the way Shaquille has reacted to this and he’s struggling … hearts are breaking in Shaq’s family and in our family as well,’ Johnson said. ‘When he struggles, we struggle with him because he’s one of our brothers … basically the big fella, who I’ve described as the biggest kid in the world, his heart is breaking.’
He wrapped up in addressing O’Neal in saying, ‘Big fella, you hang in there.’
![Family man: Shaq was snapped in Beverly Hills with son Shareef, 19, in August](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/10/25/05/20162250-7612061-Family_man_Shaq_was_snapped_in_Beverly_Hills_with_son_Shareef_19-a-60_1571976084214.jpg)
Family man: Shaq was snapped in Beverly Hills with son Shareef, 19, in August
![Stalwart: The NBA legend and broadcaster was snapped in Las Vegas earlier this month](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/10/25/05/20162252-7612061-Stalwart_The_NBA_legend_and_broadcaster_was_snapped_in_Las_Vegas-a-61_1571976084221.jpg)
Stalwart: The NBA legend and broadcaster was snapped in Las Vegas earlier this month
Charles Barkley sent heartfelt messages to O’Neal’s Lucille, who is close friends with his late mom Charcey Glenn.
Kenny Smith called the four-time NBA champion ‘the big family guy’ and explained the bond he and his broadcasting partners have.
‘One of the most difficult things about being close to someone and working with them this many years is you get to know them and their family and their friends so you hurt so much more,’ he said. ‘You have the pain just as much as you have the joy.’
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/10/25/05/20164036-7612061-image-a-57_1571976083984.jpg)
![Support: Shaq thanked his TNT colleagues for their kind words amid the family tragedy](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/10/25/05/20164038-7612061-Support_Shaq_thanked_his_TNT_colleagues_for_their_kind_words_ami-a-62_1571976084221.jpg)
Support: Shaq thanked his TNT colleagues for their kind words amid the family tragedy
![Peers: The hoops legend's TNT co-host Ernie Johnson shared the heartbreaking news amid warm words and condolences in his colleague's family tragedy](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/10/25/05/20164528-7612061-Peers_The_hoops_legend_s_TNT_co_host_Ernie_Johnson_shared_the_he-a-63_1571976084225.jpg)
Peers: The hoops legend’s TNT co-host Ernie Johnson shared the heartbreaking news amid warm words and condolences in his colleague’s family tragedy
![Poignant: Charles Barkley sent heartfelt messages to O'Neal's Lucille, who is close friends with his late mom Charcey Glenn](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/10/25/05/20164526-7612061-Poignant_Charles_Barkley_sent_heartfelt_messages_to_O_Neal_s_Luc-a-64_1571976084254.jpg)
Poignant: Charles Barkley sent heartfelt messages to O’Neal’s Lucille, who is close friends with his late mom Charcey Glenn
![Vivid: Kenny Smith called the four-time NBA champion 'the big family guy' and explained the bond he and his broadcasting partners have](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/10/25/05/20164532-7612061-Vivid_Kenny_Smith_called_the_four_time_NBA_champion_the_big_fami-a-65_1571976084365.jpg)
Vivid: Kenny Smith called the four-time NBA champion ‘the big family guy’ and explained the bond he and his broadcasting partners have
Adam Silver, the NBA’s commissioner, sent kind well-wishes to O’Neal and his relatives.
‘We’ve all known Shaq’s mom Lucille since he came into the league,’ Silver said, ‘and I’ve met his sister many times so from everyone at the league, but from me personally, my condolences to Shaq, he’s probably not watching, but to his family, and I know all of you are hurting because you’re all so close to each other.’
Shaquille responded to the segment in a tweet, telling Johnson, Barkley and Smith, ‘Thanks for the condolences and the love. If I had older brothers, it would be you 3.’
The legendary center, who also played for the Orlando Magic, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers over the course of his two-decade career in the NBA, added, ‘Love y’all and love you more,’ addressing colleague Candace Parker with the latter message.