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[Watch] Kobe Bryant Answers Whether He'll Join Shaq on Inside the NBA

Will he team up with the Diesel once again?

Any hoop fans holding onto hope that Kobe Bryant would join Shaquille O'Neal as an analyst on TNT's Inside the NBA — we've got bad news.

Just as he has done throughout his legendary 20-year NBA career by ripping the hearts right out of the competition's chest, the Black Mamba dashed any such hopes of rejoining the Diesel, giving TMZ Sports a flat-out "no," when asked if he wants the job.

Rejected! Cold-blooded, Kobe. Cold-blooded.

But just because Kobe and Shaq, former Los Angeles Lakers teammates, won't be joining forces again doesn't mean that they can't work together.

While speaking to TMZ, Bryant confirmed last week's news that he'll be training O'Neal's son, Shareef, during the summer.

But the five-time NBA champion told the celebrity news site that he won't be teaching Shareef Shaq-like post moves, but post moves of his own — Black Mamba style. Shareef, a 16-year-old, 6-foot-8 sophomore out of L.A.'s Windward high school, is regarded as one of the better young basketball prospects in the country.

Between training Shaq's son and recently starring in an ad for the upcoming Copa America Centenario soccer tournament, it sounds like Kobe will be pretty busy during his first summer since retiring last month.

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