Shaq Ready to Shine for Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns Shaquille O'Neal is guarded by teammate Brian Skinner during practice. Photo by Jeff Topping/Reuters
A new era dawns for the Phoenix Suns this week as
Shaquille O'Neal hits the court for the high-scoring NBA team. The three-time NBA Finals MVP was traded from the hapless Miami Heat on Feb. 6 and is hoping to be the key to finally putting the Suns over the top. "This team has always been there in the Western Conference," O'Neal says. "They just couldn't quite get over the hump. I think with my experience and my on-the-court/off-the-court leadership, I can help them get over the hump."
Having apparently recovered from a hip injury, Shaq will make his debut
Wednesday against one of his former teams, the Los Angeles Lakers, and ex-teammate/adversary Kobe Bryant (Feb. 20, 9 pm/ET, ESPN). On Tuesday night when Fox Sports Net West asked Kobe for his thoughts on playing Shaq and the Suns, he coolly replied, "I don't have any."
The Suns make two other nationally televised appearances this week, hosting the Boston Celtics on
Friday (Feb. 22, 10:30 pm/ET, ESPN) and the Detroit Pistons on
Sunday (Feb. 24, 2:30 pm/ET, ABC).
