Shaquille O'Neal News: Pro Sports Daily

O'Neal trade not without risks, but rewards are greater

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June 28

Akron Beacon Journal

columnist Patrick McManamon

"The major challenges folks mention about adding Shaquille O'Neal to the Cavaliers do not seem to be challenges in the eyes of the Cavs. The first says that LeBron James won't be able to get to the basket with Shaq's big body clogging the paint. I don't quite understand this one. Did Dwyane Wade have a problem driving when O'Neal was with the Miami Heat? It will take some adjustment, yes, because James has never played with such a massive low-post presence. But nobody in the league has better basketball savvy than James, so any adjustment seems less consequential than it's being made to be. Too, O'Neal's presence gives James a rather hefty option if teams double him. Think back to Game 7 in ..."

In blockbuster deal, Shaquille O'Neal shipped to Cleveland Cavaliers

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June 26

Palm Beach Post

"Call him The Big Pirogi. Label the season "The King and I." Shaquille O'Neal is now in Cleveland, where he'll combine with superstar forward LeBron "King" James to give the town formerly known as "The Mistake by the Lake" the most high-profile 1-2 punch in the NBA. Cleveland General Manager Danny Ferry hopes the LeBron-Shaq pairing wins the city its first championship in any sport since 1964. "Our goals are aligned with what our players want, including LeBron, and that's to win a championship and win it next year," Ferry said of Thursday's trade that sent O'Neal to the Cleveland from Phoenix in exchange for a package that included center Ben Wallace and guard Sasha Pavlovic. "I was elated ..."

O'Neal achieves relevance

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June 26

San Antonio Express-News

columnist Mike Monroe

"What should we now call Shaquille O'Neal now that The Big Cactus has left the desert? The Big Rocker? The Cavaliers play within sight of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, filled with aging superstars still performing past their primes. The Big Partner? Shaq always has been part of a potent tandem, teamed in the past with Penny Hardaway, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade and Steve Nash before joining LeBron James in a blockbuster draft day trade on Thursday. What O'Neal really has become is the NBA's Big Headline. No matter what is happening in the league, O'Neal always finds a way to become part of the story. A draft night with a player pool some experts believe is as thin as any in the past two ..."

Shaq traded to Cavs on eve of draft

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June 25

Arizona Republic

"Like many of the Suns' recent NBA draft days, this one will be more about who the Suns are sending away with Phoenix agreeing Wednesday night to a trade that will ship center Shaquille O'Neal to the Cleveland Cavaliers. In exchange for the 37-year-old, 15-time All-Star, the Suns will get about $10 million in savings by acquiring Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic and then releasing Pavlovic, who has only $1.5 million of his $4.95 million salary guaranteed. Phoenix also gets the 46th pick in Thursday night's draft and $500,000. A buyout of Wallace's contract is also possible after injuries reduced his effectiveness and caused him to ponder retirement. He is due to make $14 million this season ..."

Cavs closer to getting Shaq?

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June 24

Yahoo! Sports

"Phoenix center Shaquille O'Neal is creeping closer to joining the championship chase with LeBron James, league sources said on Wednesday. The Shaq-to-Cleveland trade talks have gained momentum and Cavaliers officials are nearing the conclusion they should make the move for O'Neal, sources said. Now, they have to find the package that'll work with Phoenix. One league executive says there's an "inevitability" to the talks and that, "It's going to get done." Nevertheless, there are still hurdles. Besides taking Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic, Phoenix wants Cleveland to surrender cash and future draft picks. Both teams have tried to find a third team to get involved, but with no luck yet. ..."

Shaq joining LeBron is worth Witnessing

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June 15

Washington Times

columnist Tom Knott

"Shaquille O'Neal would be the splashy addition that lifts LeBron James and the Cavaliers to an NBA championship. O'Neal would be the piece that bolsters the Cavaliers around the basket and eases the defensive attention on James. He would be to the Cavaliers what Kevin Garnett was to the Celtics last season. The inability of the Cavaliers and Suns to broker this deal before the trading deadline in February stalled both franchises. Now the two are talking anew after the Cavaliers had no counter to Dwight Howard in the Eastern Conference finals, and the celebrated trio of O'Neal, Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire failed to lead the Suns into the playoffs. O'Neal never was a good fit with the ..."

Big Shaq-tus, big rumors

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June 15

Arizona Republic

columnist Bob Young

"A regular reader e-mailed The Heat Index on June 2 to point out that Cleveland's Ben Wallace reportedly was considering retirement and open to the idea of a buyout of his contract. "If Wallace is serious about retiring with or without a buyout, the Suns should pursue that deal hard now," our guy wrote. "Buy Wallace out for 50 percent of his $14 million dollar salary and buy out (Sasha) Pavlovic . . . and save $10 million." OK, so technically it's $9.9 million. Our reader, who we'll call "Larry," was on to something, huh? Larry suggested that if the Suns clear some space with the move, they could pursue Marcin Gortat, the Orlando Magic's active, rugged, rebound-eating backup center, who ..."

Shaq pluses and minuses

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June 15

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Before we get into this, let me just say that I believe there is less than a 50 percent chance Shaquille O'Neal will traded to the Cavs this summer. But I am relieved that after quite a bit of nonsense out there this week, this is the first time something legit has passed through the Internet involving the Cavs. After checking on it, I found out that it was indeed true and it didn't surprise me. Since the end of the regular season, the Cavs have talked with about 20 teams to take a temperature of what is out there in the market -- both with the draft and with players available. One of the teams was the Suns and because the Cavs and Suns talked about this back in February there's some more ..."

O'Neal would bring a big entertainment factor to the Cleveland Cavaliers

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June 15

Cleveland Plain Dealer

columnist Bud Shaw

"Not only should a trade for Shaquille O'Neal happen, he should arrive for every game at The Q in a golden chariot and be fed grapes by members of the Cavaliers dance team. He should walk to the center jump to the soundtrack of "The King and I." Since he is joining the court of LeBron James, he could hold a name-changing ceremony at city hall, relinquish his desert moniker "Big Cactus" and take on "Big Royalty." Cavs owner Dan Gilbert would hold all rights to this grand basketball theater, so "royalty" would have a double meaning for him. The payoff could be the NBA title that persuades James there is absolutely no reason to go anywhere else in the summer of 2010. But even if a ..."

Cavaliers consider trade for Suns center Shaquille O'Neal

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June 15

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Another rumor about the Cavaliers popped up on the national scene on Sunday, but this time there was some fire to the smoke. The Arizona Republic reported the Cavs and Phoenix Suns have restarted talks about a trade that would potentially bring future Hall of Fame center Shaquille O'Neal to Cleveland. A league source con firmed Sunday that Cavs General Man ager Danny Ferry and Suns GM Steve Kerr have been in touch and discussed O'Neal since the Cavs' season ended two weeks ago. However, the talks are believed to just be a part of the preliminary dis cussions the Cavs are having with many teams leading up to the draft. The Cavs have been in talks with nu merous teams in the past 10 days ..."

In Bryant's Shining Hour, a Shaq Attack of Trade Talk

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June 15

New York Times

"Even as Kobe Bryant's moment arrived, Shaquille O'Neal somehow appropriated a slice of the spotlight. Shaq to Cleveland? Shaq and LeBron James as the new dynamic duo? The headlines and television scroll bars were atwitter (as was Twitter) with the possibility on Sunday. For a few hours, the story trumped the N.B.A. finals and Bryant's quest for his first championship without O'Neal. The Los Angeles Lakers, with a 3-1 lead over the Orlando Magic, had their first chance to clinch the title Sunday night. Rumors of an O'Neal trade to Cleveland have lingered since February, when the Cavaliers and the Phoenix Suns seriously discussed parameters of a deal. The story got new life when The Arizona ..."

Yo, Shaq, get out of our faces

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May 28

Orlando Sentinel

columnist Mike Bianchi

"It was like being at your own wedding — a day of rejoicing and exultation and entering an exciting new phase of your life — and then seeing the ex-girlfriend who ripped your heart out sitting in the front row of the church. Why was Shaquille O'Neal sitting courtside at the Magic's huge Game 4 overtime victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night? Who sent him an invitation to the party? He was more out of place than Rush Limbaugh dancing the night away to the Dixie Chicks at Barack Obama's inauguration ball. Can you believe it? The guy who destroyed the franchise 13 years ago when he bolted for L.A., actually showed up at the amped-up Am on a night when the Magic and their fans ..."

Shaquille O'Neal Takes Course in Broadcasting at Syracuse

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May 20

New York Times

"Shaquille O'Neal has starred in everything from rap videos to video games. He has filmed, by his own count, about 250 television commercials over the past 10 years. He has completed enough postgame interviews on TNT to have critiqued nearly all of Craig Sager's purple suits. Still, O'Neal found himself at Syracuse University on Tuesday, celebrating the successful completion of a mock four-minute interview as if it were a playoff buzzer beater. "Bam," he screamed, pointing at a computer monitor. "Exactly four minutes." The 37-year-old O'Neal insists he will play four more N.B.A. seasons, but he plans on having his own radio and television shows after retirement. He envisions something ..."

Shaq named to All-NBA third team

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May 14

Arizona Republic

"Suns center Shaquille O'Neal was named to the All-NBA third team for the 2008-09 season Wednesday. LeBron James of the Cavaliers, the 2008-09 MVP, was a unanimous selection to the All-NBA first team. He was joined by Kobe Bryant of the Lakers, Dwight Howard of the Magic, Dirk Nowitzki of the Mavericks and Dwyane Wade of the Heat. The All-NBA second team consists of New Orleans' Chris Paul, Portland's Brandon Roy, San Antonio's Tim Duncan, Boston's Paul Pierce and Houston's Yao Ming. In addition to O'Neal, the All-NBA third team includes Denver's Chauncey Billups, San Antonio's Tony Parker, Denver's Carmelo Anthony and the Lakers' Pau Gasol. For O'Neal, it was the 14th time in 17 seasons ..."

Cuban not in hot pursuit of Shaq

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April 9

ESPN.com

"Phoenix Suns center Shaquille O'Neal is starting to drop thinly veiled hints about pushing for a trade to the Dallas Mavericks this offseason. After responding to several recent questions about his future with a mock growl, O'Neal told ESPN.com: "You know who needs me, right?" Asked if he was referring to the Mavericks, O'Neal added: "You write it." But Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, in response, made it sound Wednesday as though he would prefer to keep his longtime friendship with O'Neal on a mostly Twitter level. Cuban wouldn't completely rule out a deal for O'Neal this summer, but he likewise offered only limited encouragement when asked before Dallas' crucial 130-101 drubbing of the Utah ..."

Big Shaq headed to Big D?

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April 8

Arizona Republic

"They're already working on nicknames for Shaquille O'Neal in Dallas. The Big Texan? The Big Shaq-adillo? The Big D-sel? OK, maybe they're jumping the gun a bit, but speculation is ramping up that O'Neal is angling to be moved to the Dallas Mavericks in the off-season. DallasBasketball.com reported Wednesday that O'Neal is telling friends he wants Mavericks owner Mark Cuban to make it happen. The report quotes an un-named "mutual friend" of Shaq and Cuban who said O'Neal is making no secret of his desire privately and that after the season "it won't be private anymore." Of course, adding fuel to this Texas rumor fire is an exchange of "tweets" on Twitter.com between The Big Texter and ..."

Shaq calls out Suns rookie center Lopez

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March 31

Arizona Republic

"Suns center Shaquille O'Neal did not have much to say about Sacramento center Spencer Hawes posting a career-high 20 points on Sunday night, other than to call out the Suns guards for making the team's post defense vulnerable by allowing penetration. But he did have words about another center, rookie teammate Robin Lopez. O'Neal and Lopez had an animated talk during a break late in Thursday's loss in Portland. "Put somebody on their (expletive) back," O'Neal said he told Lopez. "Don't let anybody oopsy-doopsy layup on you and be laughing at you. Have you ever seen me get dunked on? No, because I put (expletive) on their backs. Period. "If you're going to be a big man, be a big man. Don't ..."

Shaq talks about his scoring mark

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March 23

Arizona Republic

"As a kid, the Suns' Shaquille O'Neal did not know who his father was talking about when he told him to do things like Wilt Chamberlain. Now, Chamberlain is one of only four players in front of him for NBA career scoring. O'Neal's 27,411 points trail Chamberlain (31,419), Michael Jordan (32,292), Karl Malone (36,928) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387). "When I first came into this league, I always said, 'When I leave, I will be remembered,' " O'Neal said. "I'm up there with some pretty good company. If I wouldn't have had three years worth of injuries and 5,000 (5,097) misses from the free-throw line, right now mathematically I'd probably be at least No. 3 right now. "I'm a little bit ..."

Shaq moves up to 5th on NBA scoring list

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March 22

Arizona Republic

"The Suns' Jason Richardson fed center Shaquille O'Neal for a slam that pushed Shaq past Moses Malone for fifth place on the NBA's career scoring list during the Suns' 128-96 win over the Washington Wizards on Saturday night. O'Neal, who started the season in 11th place, scored 13 points to raise his tally to 27,411 points. O'Neal, 37, would need four more seasons of play at this season's scoring pace to catch Wilt Chamberlain (31,419) for fourth. "It shows how I've been consistent at what I've been doing, and the next guy is my illegitimate father, Wilt Chamberlain," O'Neal said. "So just like in 'Star Wars,' hopefully I can catch up to my father."

Shaq credits success to trainers

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March 11

Arizona Republic

"Shaquille O'Neal needs 13 points to pass Elvin Hayes for sixth place on the NBA's career scoring list. O'Neal's field-goal shooting (60.3 percent) and free-throw shooting (62.4 percent) this season are career highs. "He deserves a lot of credit, whatever his training has been or eating or focus or whatever mental process he's going through and physical process," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "At that age (37) and being that big and doing what he's doing is pretty impressive." O'Neal credits much of his success, especially this deep in the season, to the Suns' athletic trainers. "Anytime I feel a little pain, they take care of it and make it go away," O'Neal said. "This as good as I've ..."

LA Times: Shaq wants out of Phoenix

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March 11

Arizona Republic

"The Los Angeles Times reported that center Shaquille O'Neal "is saying privately he wants out" of Phoenix because the Suns pondered trading him last month and/or because they returned to their up-tempo offense. He declined comment Monday morning."

Shaq credits success to Suns' trainers

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March 9

Arizona Republic

"Shaquille O'Neal needs 13 points to pass Elvin Hayes for sixth place on the NBA's career scoring list. O'Neal's field-goal shooting (60.3 percent) and free-throw shooting (62.4 percent) this season are career highs. "He deserves a lot of credit, whatever his training has been or eating or focus or whatever mental process he's going through and physical process," Popovich said. "At that age (37) and being that big and doing what he's doing is pretty impressive." O'Neal credits much of his success, especially this deep in the season, to the Suns' athletic trainers. "Anytime I feel a little pain, they take care of it and make it go away," O'Neal said. "This as good as I've felt in March in a ..."

Shaquille O'Neal rips Magic coach Stan Van Gundy

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March 5

Miami Herald

"Suns center Shaquille O'Neal returned to AmericanAirlines Arena on Wednesday for the time since the Heat traded him, taking shots not at the Heat, but at Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy. A day after Van Gundy, who coached the Heat from 2003-05, criticized O'Neal for ''flopping,'' O'Neal called Van Gundy a ''nobody'' and a ``front-runner.'' ''I was trying to take a charge, trying to get a call,'' O'Neal said. ``Yeah, it probably was a flop, but flopping is the wrong use of words. Flopping would describe his coaching.'' On Tuesday, O'Neal fell while trying to get an offensive foul called on Magic center Dwight Howard. Howard ended up dunking. Van Gundy said he was ``shocked, seriously ..."

Eventually, we'll know what happened with Shaq, Wade

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March 5

Miami Herald

"As much as neither wanted to admit to even the slightest bit of dislike for each other, there's something between Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade that has somehow remained trapped in the confines of the locker room they used to share. The encounters are becoming a little less friendly each time, and they are heading to the verge of just plain chilly. That was Udonis Haslem, not Wade, whom O'Neal spent the pregame chatting up for several minutes, with Dorell Wright coming in late for a few words of his own. And the pretip handshake was typical, a hand slap, a halfway man hug and a tap from Wade on Shaq's bald head. Not much different from what Wade would have done to Rasheed Wallace before ..."

Flop flap causes Shaq to flip out on Stan Van Gundy

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March 5

Orlando Sentinel

"Phoenix Suns center Shaquille O'Neal can dish it out, but the prickly Big Cactus can't take it. That's basically Orlando Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy's reaction to Shaq's harsh criticism of his coaching ability Wednesday after Van Gundy chided him Tuesday night for flopping in the Magic's victory against the Suns. "He's dealt with this like he's dealt with everything else," Van Gundy said when reached at his home by the Sentinel. "I think it's funny." O'Neal conceded he tried to draw an offensive foul by "flopping" or falling to the floor against Magic center Dwight Howard, whom Shaq also had criticized before the game. Van Gundy said he was "joking around," saying after the game that he was ..."

Shaq blasts Orlando's Van Gundy

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March 5

Arizona Republic

"Suns center Shaquille O'Neal's "I hate Shaq" tour against his former teams intensified Wednesday when he heard about Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy's comments about O'Neal's flop attempt in Tuesday's loss to the Magic. "I was shocked, seriously, shocked," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. "And very disappointed 'cause he knows what it's like. Let's stand up and play like men." That did not sit well with O'Neal. Here are some of his comments: "He (Dwight Howard) came with the same old, stale Patrick Ewing move so I tried to stand there and take the charge. The new rules say if you come through, you fall. But as I fell, I realized that it was a flop and it reminded me of Coach Van Gundy's ..."

'I Hate Shaq Tour' finishes in Miami

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March 4

Arizona Republic

"The "I Hate Shaq Tour" ends Wednesday in Miami, where Shaquille O'Neal might encounter more envy than hate from former teammates and fans in his first return since the Heat traded him last season. "We wish he was still here, playing the way he is now," Heat guard Dwyane Wade told Miami reporters. "You lick your chops thinking about that." O'Neal and Wade led the Heat to their first NBA title in 2006, but they were swept in the first round a year later. O'Neal was injured in 2007-08, when he played in just four games in a seven-week span before being traded to Phoenix."

Past (O'Neal ) and present (Howard) take center stage tonight

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March 3

Orlando Sentinel

"Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard put his hands to his face to retrace the most recent souvenirs from a hard life in the paint. He had a long, jagged blood-dried scratch stretching from his right ear to across his jawbone. He ran a finger above his left eye where he recently had three stitches. Howard then stuck out his chin and presented a stiff upper lip. "I'm like a soldier. I'm a warrior," he said, before breaking into a fake crying routine, lamenting the loss of his good looks. "It messed up my pretty face! The wounds will heal." But how about the wounds you couldn't see Monday after practice? Howard won't exchange body blows with Phoenix Suns center Shaquille O'Neal until tonight ..."

Shaq: Bosh is 'the RuPaul of big men'

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March 3

Globe and Mail

"Leave it to Shaquille O'Neal to make RuPaul popular again. The Phoenix Suns centre had people scrambling to check their 1990s pop-culture references when he compared Toronto Raptors forward Chris Bosh to the drag queen who parlayed a flare for wigs and dance hall hits into a contract with MAC cosmetics a decade ago. The man known as Big Diesel was responding to Bosh's comments after the Suns' 133-113 win over the Raptors on Feb. 27. O'Neal, 7 foot 1 and 325 pounds, was dominant in that game, scoring 45 points on 20-of-25 shooting. So much so that Bosh suggested at least some of his success was because of a liberal interpretation of the three-in-the-key rule. "He was just camping down in ..."

Shaq's effectiveness taking hold

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March 3

Arizona Republic

"It takes six months for the NBA to organize a schedule of 1,230 games. It's an intricate process that coordinates arena events, television matchups - and, seemingly, Shaquille O'Neal. Sunday's Suns upset of the Los Angles Lakers began a three-game walk through his NBA life - Lakers on Sunday, a visit to O'Neal's original team in Orlando on Tuesday and then his first return to Miami since leaving the Heat. "Call this the 'I Hate Shaq Trip,' " O'Neal said. Suns fans love him and it's for more than his wit and showmanship. The Suns have managed without Steve Nash, who is expected to play Tuesday after missing three because of an ankle sprain, but not without O'Neal. Phoenix is 32-20 with ..."

A Ru'd awakening for Bosh

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March 3

Toronto Sun

"As if Chris Bosh didn't have enough to worrry about, he awoke yesterday to the news that Shaquille O'Neal, the self-anointed Big Aristotle, took aim at the Raptors forward. Following Friday's loss in Phoenix, Bosh told reporters O'Neal benefited from the officials, whom Bosh felt ignored many three-second violations. "I heard what Chris Bosh said and that's strong words coming from the RuPaul of big men," O'Neal told the Arizona Republic. "I'm going to do the same thing (when O'Neal next plays Bosh) I did before -- make him quit. Make 'em quit and complain. It's what I do.""

Shaq's play a ray of hope for Suns

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March 2

East Valley Tribune

columnist Scott Bordow

"The old man had just pounded and bullied the Los Angeles Lakers for the better part of three hours, and now he sat in front of his locker, his voice soft but his words as defiant as ever. "It's what I do," Shaquille O'Neal said. "I've been doing it since 1992. If you don't believe it, Google me." There's no need. We got the live version Sunday, and what a show it was. Five days before his 37th birthday, O'Neal scored 33 points and pulled down seven rebounds in the Suns' 118-111 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. That came just three days after he poured in 45 points against the Toronto Raptors, a performance so unbelievable Toronto center Chris Bosh accused Shaq of cheating, saying he ..."

O'Neal responds to Bosh comment

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March 2

Arizona Republic

"After Shaquille O'Neal scored 45 against Toronto on Friday, Raptors star Chris Bosh said O'Neal had benefited from officials ignoring his three-second lane violations. "I heard what Chris Bosh said, and that's strong words coming from the RuPaul of big men," O'Neal said. "I'm going to do the same thing (in their next meeting) I did before - make him quit. Make 'em quit and complain. It's what I do." O'Neal is the only NBA player other than Stephon Marbury and Bernard King to record 40-point games with four teams."

Shaq-led Suns knock off Lakers

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March 2

Arizona Republic

"The Suns wanted to be better equipped this season to survive stretches without Steve Nash. How's beating the NBA's best team without him work? Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers at US Airways Center opened with "Beat LA" chants, but few expected it to end with them, too, especially four days after they had turned the Suns' grand-prix offense into a demolition derby Thursday in a 26-point loss. But with center Shaquille O'Neal having his best game against the Lakers since leaving them, the Suns kept sight of the playoff-race pack with a stunning 118-111 win. "There's no one in the world who can guard him (O'Neal) when he's feeling like that," said Suns forward Matt Barnes, who ..."

Shaq denies distress of trade talks

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February 22

Arizona Republic

"The Suns center was said to be unhappy that he was mentioned in trade talks, particularly one that would have sent him to Portland. He denied being upset Saturday, sort of. "I don't want to be in wherever they were trying to send me," O'Neal said. "But it was cool. Thank God for (Suns General Manager Steve) Kerr and the people upstairs. I'm just happy to be here." Had O'Neal been moved, the deal would have been financially motivated by Raef LaFrentz's expiring contract and a chance to avoid O'Neal's $20 million salary next season. O'Neal said he appreciated that Kerr was honest during the process. Though the Suns are without Amaré Stoudemire and an offense that utilized him in post-up ..."

Cavaliers are talking with Phoenix Suns about acquiring Shaquille O'Neal

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February 19

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"From the people around the league I am talking to today, the Cavs are one of the most aggressive teams at this point. They are convinced that they have an advantage as a buyer and do not want to let a chance slip past as teams everywhere are looking to sell. Several reliable sources have told me they have offered Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic (only $1 million guaranteed) for Shaquille O'Neal. The Suns may want to keep Amare Stoudemire but now have abandoned their plans to play slow down and Shaq is in the way. Also, it would save them millions next season because Wallace's contract actually decreases next season and Pavlovic is not fully guaranteed. This would be a massive transition for ..."

Shaq sees big things ahead for Suns

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February 18

Arizona Republic

columnist Paola Boivin

"Did you feel it? It started during Shaquille O'Neal's memorable JabbaWockeeZ dance and culminated with his death grip on the NBA All-Star Game MVP trophy he shared with Kobe Bryant. The Suns center is positioning himself for one final run at greatness. Whether he accomplishes it is another matter, but he is re-energized after the league's midseason celebration thrust him back into the spotlight, and after Suns management made a coaching change better suited for his team. "I've been dreaming about how this season's going to end," O'Neal said Tuesday after his second practice with interim coach Alvin Gentry. "This is how it's going to go down: We're going to finish 22-9. We're going to ..."

Shaq's lovable, but . . .

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February 16

Globe and Mail

"He started the festivities as only Shaquille O'Neal can, coming out for the pregame introductions at the NBA all-star game wearing a mime's mask and engaging in a prolonged interpretive dance remarkable for its expertise and the fact that the expert is seven feet, 350 pounds. The crowd loved it. His teammates loved it, and O'Neal himself loved it. "I just wanted to do something different," O'Neal said. "[This all-star game] might be my last one." O'Neal doesn't have to worry about being different. He's an original and has been since he burst on the scene as a precocious, oversize rookie in 1992-93. It never gets old even if Shaq, three weeks from his 37th birthday, is getting there. "I'm ..."

Bryant, O'Neal share MVP in All-Star contest

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February 16

L.A. Daily News

"Oh, the harmony. Kobe laughing at Shaq. Kobe laughing with Shaq. Kobe and Shaq sharing the NBA All-Star Game's Most Valuable Player award, but Kobe allowing the Big Fella to keep the trophy so Shaq's kids could see it. If it wasn't a made in the NBA marketing department office moment, it certainly was a made for Hollywood reunion to remind Lakers fans of life before Shaquille O'Neal became a Hatfield and Kobe Bryant a McCoy. Or after the too-many-to- count public decrees the feud was over, or never really existed inside the Lakers' locker room. The two even embraced on the US Airways Center court after the West crushed the East 146-119 in Sunday's All-Star Game, with Bryant leading the way ..."

MVPs Shaq, Kobe still have ties

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February 16

Arizona Republic

columnist Paola Boivin

"As much as they have tried to escape it, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal remain forever linked. The former teammates were named co-MVPs of the NBA All-Star Game Sunday night after a blistering first half by Bryant and a spirited second half by O'Neal. The two combined for 44 points in the Western Conference's 146-119 victory over the East. After Commissioner David Stern made the announcement, the two hugged. When Stern handed them the trophy, they pretended to fight over it. When asked to describe the experience, O'Neal smiled and offered this description of the former Los Angeles Lakers teammates: "The Big Legendaries." "It felt like old times," O'Neal said. "I miss those times. He was ..."

Shaq, Kobe lead West to victory

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February 16

Arizona Republic

"It was a surreal picture for every Los Angeles Lakers fan, akin to Magic Johnson wearing green or Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell embracing on a 1960s court. Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant validated their newfound accord during Sunday's NBA All-Star Game at US Airways Center, five years after they could not share the same limelight. Together, O'Neal and Bryant accepted the game's MVP award from NBA Commissioner David Stern and raised it in the air together, even if O'Neal playfully acted like he wanted to wrest it away from Bryant after their West team's 146-119 victory, the game's biggest blowout since the 1995 All-Star Game in Phoenix. Just like those years that culminated in three ..."

Lakers drama rekindled for a night

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February 15

East Valley Tribune

columnist Scott Bordow

"We'll get to the Shaquille O'Neal-Kobe Bryant-Phil Jackson love/hate triangle in a minute, but first, a few words about the Big Cactus. Like a lot of folks, I thought O'Neal was finished when the Suns acquired him in February 2008. He was hurt, he was overweight, and there was talk throughout the league that he had quit on the Miami Heat. Well, Shaq fooled us all. He's an All-Star again, and deservedly so. Even those who still hate the trade that shipped Shawn Marion out of town have to begrudgingly respect what O'Neal has done. He's averaging 17.3 points and 8.9 rebounds per game while playing 30.6 minutes, the most since 2005-06. Even more stunning, he's shooting 61.9 percent from the ..."

Just like good old days (sort of), Kobe, Shaq

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February 15

New York Daily News

columnist Mitch Lawrence

"Phil Jackson suspects that his reserve center for the Western Conference All-Star team, Shaquille O'Neal, might have some trouble picking up the offense for tonight's game. "It could be amnesia," Jackson said. He might have forgotten the triangle offense, but even now, five years and two teams removed from his Laker days, Shaq still hasn't forgotten one former teammate. Need a hint as to who that would be? "If Shaq and Kobe had stayed together, they would have won five or six titles," LeBron James said. "I don't think there's any doubt about it." James is probably right. We haven't seen a better inside-out tandem since Shaq and Kobe Bryant won three straight titles and played in a fourth ..."

Shaq opens up on Kobe, Lakers

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February 14

Arizona Republic

"Suns center Shaquille O'Neal barely had his voice Friday but had no problem talking about Kobe Bryant for much of his half-hour media session with the media. He sat up in the front row for the Western Conference's team meeting and pontificated about the "great Phil Jackson" and Bryant as the best player in the game. Bryant missed the team meeting and did not participate in the Western Conference All-Stars media session, showing up 45 minutes late and talking as the East stars conducted their interviews. The feud may be three years dead but O'Neal and Bryant still could not be more different. This weekend the pairing O'Neal calls the greatest "little-, big-man duo" in NBA history reunite ..."

How would Shaq critique the Lakers?

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February 12

Orange County Register

columnist Kevin Ding

"Phil Jackson is approaching his assignment as Western Conference All-Star coach this weekend with all the passion and preparation of your most mediocre substitute teacher. So it's not beyond the realm of possibility that he'll gather his All-Star players for supposed practice, pop in a DVD of the Lakers-Jazz game Wednesday night and announce: "Study this, and maybe we'll try to run some of the triangle offense in the game Sunday." Jackson would then grab his trusty crossword puzzle, sit behind a desk and wait to see who is the first one to ask for all hall pass to use the restroom. (Given his limited ability to focus, I'd guess Phoenix's Amare Stoudemire.) If Jackson was the NBA's ..."

Kobe Bryant taking All-Star reunion in stride

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February 12

Los Angeles Times

"The question caused Kobe Bryant to pause. He was asked about his feelings of having Shaquille O'Neal as a teammate again on the Western Conference All-Star team. The two last were teammates in 2004, when the Lakers lost in the NBA Finals to the Detroit Pistons. Soon after, O'Neal was shipped off to the Miami Heat in a trade before he was acquired by the Phoenix Suns last season. "Are you kidding me?" Bryant responded. "I haven't given it any thought. It's going to be a fun little vacation for me." When media day is held Friday in Phoenix, Bryant and O'Neal probably will be asked about their past dealings often. "Ask Phil about it. Don't ask me about it," Bryant said. Lakers Coach Phil ..."

Majerle, O'Neal to have All-Star roles

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February 9

Arizona Republic

"Jason Richardson did not get invited to All-Star Saturday Night's 3-Point Shootout. The NBA could not make Steve Nash be in any Saturday competition in Phoenix after he was not named an All-Star. But there will be extracurricular work for Suns this All-Star weekend. Assistant coach Dan Majerle will play in Friday's celebrity game and be a judge for the slam-dunk contest. Center Shaquille O'Neal and singer Chris Brown will team up on something related to All-Star Game introductions. A Suns player, ex-player and Mercury player will form a Shooting Stars trio. Majerle, a former three-time All-Star, often plays with the younger Suns at the end of practices. "I'm more excited for it to be in ..."

The Big Win-Win

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February 7

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"It has been a year since a team at the bottom of the standings dealt a former All-Star center down on his luck. Since then, since Feb. 6, 2008, everything has changed for the Miami Heat and Shaquille O'Neal. "We've moved on and he's moved on," Heat guard Dwyane Wade said. "It's just amazing how much has changed. Look at where we were a year ago. And look at where he was." A year ago, the Heat was 9-37 and O'Neal was rotting away on its inactive list, disinterested, disinclined, diminished to a career-low 14.2 points per game. A year later, the Heat is comfortably back in the middle of the playoff race and O'Neal is a week from welcoming the NBA to Phoenix as an All-Star center. The rancor ..."