Q&A with NBA great Shaquille O'Neal on his future, the New Orleans Hornets, LSU

[fevertrees]

http://www.nola.com/hornets/index.ss...quille_on.html


Shaquille O'Neal on his future, the New Orleans Hornets, LSU

Former LSU All-American Shaquille O’Neal is one of the most engaging personalities in the NBA. He’s funny, controversial and is nearing retirement after 18 seasons in the league. This summer O’Neal signed a two-year contract with the Boston Celtics, his fourth team since 2008. O’Neal, who has is seeking his fifth NBA championship, sat down with the Times Picayune reporter John Reid to discuss his future, his dislikes and whether there will be a lockout next season. He also offered his opinion on Chris Paul, the Hornets, Heat President Pat Riley, LSU football coach Les Miles and former Cleveland teammate LeBron James.

Shaquille O'Neal talks with Times-Picayune sports reporter John Reid about a variety of topics Friday, including his future, the Hornets and his legacy.

Will you retire after your two-year contract ends with the Boston Celtics?

It’s going to be my last two years. I look at a lot of retired players, and when they shut it down they want to come back. But I’ve been in it for 18 years now, and I’ve had a great, illustrious career.
What do you want your legacy to be?
I never had an inconsistent year, and I’ve always been dominant. I’m the No. 5 all-time scorer — 2,000 points behind Wilt Chamberlain. Once I pass him up, I want the le as the most dominant to ever play the game. When I’m done, it would be nice to say that I passed up Chamberlain, earned five rings, and finished in the (top) 10 all-time in blocks and rebounds. Hopefully all of that will put me on the first ballot for the Hall of Fame.

As a free agent this summer, what were all the factors you considered before deciding to sign with the Celtics?

Atlanta was cool, but they don’t have a lot of national television games. But Boston, with Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, I said we can do it. A lot of people said I only got the league minimum salary, but that’s all right. I’m the luckiest guy in the world. I’ve had four max contracts in one lifetime, I don’t care about that little million. Did I want $10 million? I’m always going to put the number high. I could have gotten $8 million from Atlanta and Detroit, but it wasn’t about that. It was about being somewhere and being seen and winning.

Did you really have an interest in joining the Hornets?

I did, but a lot of people say they want to win. There are only a few owners stepping up. Micky Arison stepped with the Miami Heat. Mark Cuban always steps up for the Mavericks. A lot of people want to pay, but if you look at their books nobody wants to go over the luxury tax.

What did you think of Chris Paul saying this summer if the Hornets are not serious about winning, he would be open to a trade?

Chris did the right thing this summer, saying he wants to win, and he wants out of there if they cannot get him some help. It starts to be pressuring when you’re doing all you can and don’t win. When I was in Orlando, I said they had to get me somebody else. The Hornets made some moves, but they’ve got to do more. Chris is a great team player and leader. He just needs help.

Did you think LeBron James handled his decision to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers the right way?

He is a friend of mine, so I can’t comment on how he runs his business. A lot of people thought what he did was cool. A lot of people said the way he did it wasn’t cool. Maybe he already knew what he was going to do, nobody really knows, because he’s not really talking. Hey, I wish him well.

Are you disappointed you and the Cavaliers did not meet the objective of winning a championship?

It was very disappointing. I would rather for people to say we just didn’t win. LeBron James did a good job of leading the team, and it showed. We won 62 games, but Boston just had it.

What sort of joy do you get from the “Shaq Vs.” reality show, which has you challenging stars from other sports?

It’s fun being a couch guy that talks trash. I’m one of those guys. When I see a guy running 60 meters in 10 seconds, I say give me a 20-meter head start and I’ll beat him. It’s just me going up against other greats at what they do. I like it.

Could you talk about your relationship with former LSU coach Dale Brown?

He has helped me out throughout my entire NBA career. He has been someone that I have respected and been like a father. Dale Brown is my guy.

Do you think there is going to be a lockout in the NBA next season?

I don’t want to answer that. But people had better be saving their money, because if you look at business and how the market is, the owners might come back and say things different. On the other hand, you’ve got to look at the general managers and say, ’how can you pay this guy $20 million a year and he’s averaging only six points a game.

Once you are done with basketball, do you plan to enter law enforcement full-time?

I’m either going to be the sheriff in Baton Rouge, Miami or Los Angeles. One of those counties is going to have to welcome me in.

You are a big LSU football fan. What do you think of Coach Les Miles?

Love Les, but I’m kind of upset they ranked us No. 21, and Miami had the same record last season and they are ranked No. 9.

Do you still consider yourself one of the best players in the game?

Everyone always wants the le as the best player in the game. I own my le, and I still own it to this day. A lot of people want to take shots now, but I’m 38. But the only person in the league that slowed me down was a brother named father time, and that’s life, it slows everybody down. But no big man is ever going to do what I and Tim Duncan have done in our careers. It was time for 10 consecutive years that either me or Tim was in the NBA Finals. It was broken two years, but there will never be another big guy to do that.

You appear to be approachable to fans, showing no reluctance to sign autographs or pose for pictures. Do you think professional athletes should make that an obligation?

They always say that however you are, if you stay that way, good things will happen to you. So I can remember times like scoring 40 against great teams and then walking through the quad at LSU and seeing a million students. I’ve always been a class clown and a people person. Just because I make a of a lot more money than most people, that really doesn’t make me better. I’ve always considered myself a lucky guy and humble. I think that’s why the Shaquille O’Neal brand has done so well. Other so-called brands don’t do as well, because some of these guys are very Hollywood, especially some of the young guys that have entered the league. I don’t want to see names, but they just don’t do it right. I’m sure when I came in, Michael Jordan and them were saying the same thing about me.

Who is O’Neal?

I think people look at me as a real model, not a role model. I don’t play a role. What you see is what you get. I’ve got tattoos, I’m educated, and I like loud music. But those that create their image, it always catches up with them. The ones that act perfect, but when that reality kicks in, they can’t come back from that.

Are you surprised that you have played for four different franchises since 2008?

No, but I made the comments in Boston that when I was the CEO, things would have to go my way. The one thing I don’t tolerate is BS. You cannot BS me and I’m not a boy. I’ve been here a long time, and I understand the business. You always have to look at a bigger part of it. Like in Phoenix, the guy (Suns owner Robert Sarver) was out of money, and I’m the big salary. So what do you do? You get rid of the big salary. It wasn’t because he didn’t like me. It was the same thing in Miami, me and Pat (Riley) didn’t get along, so what do you do? But nothing goes down without my OK. Like when I was in L.A., I said I’ll go, but I’m going to Miami. They were saying we want to send you to Utah, and I said, ’Guess what, I’m not doing it.’ I told them they would have to settle out and write me a check, and then I’ll go, but they said ’all right, we’ll send you to Miami.’ In Miami, I told them I want to go to Phoenix.

While with the Miami Heat, you appeared to have a strained relationship with former Heat coach Pat Riley. What happened?

I wasn’t with the five-hour practices. Some people have different mentalities, but I was just coming off three out of four (NBA Finals MVP awards). With the Lakers, Phil (Jackson) treated us like men with 1 ½ -hour practices. I’m a businessman, and I don’t know how other men view me personally, nor do I care. I know what I do and what I have to do.

How do you stay focused despite going through emotional changes like your divorce from your wife, Shaunie.

Marriage is a tough thing, and I didn’t know how tough it was. My mother told me as soon as you get married, it’s not about you anymore, it’s about the children. As long as all of my children are fine, I’m happy.

[Nahtanoj]

Keep in mind, O'Neal is the one who repeatedly referred to his Miami coach as "the great Pat Riley" during his time in South Florida. But he also was clearly miffed when Riley pulled him in the first minute of a game at New Jersey earlier this season for blowing a defensive assignment.

Riley said he doesn't have "anything but good feelings for Shaq" and wasn't bothered by any criticism leveled at him. But he said O'Neal has no reason to blame anyone else in the organization for his unhappiness.

"When you're 9-40, we're all frustrated. I mean everybody's at fault, we all were. Everybody was feeling bad and nobody wants that," Riley said.

"He didn't want to be there, he didn't want to play for that kind of situation, 35 years old. He wanted to go to a contender and we sent him there. We sent him to Utopia and we're left here with the carnage and I don't know why he's not happy."

[Giuseppe]

He was wise to force that two year deal out of Boston. He's a nowhere man once retired. But, you know what? He knows it just as sure as the turnin' of the earth.