"On his weekly radio show in Boston last week, Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge said the possibility of former LSU center Shaquille O'Neal retiring this offseason is strong.

But O'Neal's mother, Lucille, said he still could return next season.

O'Neal, who signed a two-year contract with the Celtics last summer, missed 58 games this season after requiring arthroscopic knee surgery. He played in two playoff games after complaining of a sore back.

The Celtics were eliminated in five games by the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

"He went there to help them win a championship, and they didn't do that this year,'' Lucille said. "It bothered him so much that he could not play. He felt like he let the Boston team down and the community down, so I could believe he's going back to Boston. He's not in a place to be traded or anything like that.''

Lucille added O'Neal hasn't indicated to her what he plans to do.

"I don't know because Shaquille has got such passion for the game,'' Lucille said. "(Retirement) we've always told him that's up to him. Whatever decision he makes, we're still going to be behind him 100 percent.''

O'Neal's mother was inducted into the Boys and Girls Clubs of America's Alumni Hall of Fame during a ceremony Wednesday night in New Orleans that was part of the organization's 105th annual national conference.

Former NBA player A.C. Green and former Major League Baseball player Luis Gonzales were inducted with her, along with three non-sports figures, including Aaron S. Williams, the Director of the Peace Corps.

Shaquille O'Neal did not attend the induction."