PHOENIX — Phoenix Suns newly-acquired
center Shaquille O’Neal said Thursday he expects no special
treatment from his teammates.
"I just want to fit in," the 14-time
All-Star said. "I want to do my part.
The 35-year-old O’Neal, a former NBA Most
Valuable Player, was traded Wednesday to the Suns from the
Miami Heat in exchange for forward Shawn Marion and guard
Marcus Banks.
"I had a great meeting with the coach (Mike
D’Antoni) yesterday," said O’Neal. "I said, ‘Look I’m not a
ball freak. I’m not going to be asking for 30 or 40 touches.’
"This team has always been there in the
Western Conference. And they just couldn’t quite get over the
hump. I think with my experience and my on-the-court and
off-the-court leadership I can help them get over the hump."
The Suns have the best record in the
Western Conference at 34-15 and are looking to the 7-foot-1
O’Neal to provide an inside presence that has been lacking for
the past few years.
Led by double MVP Steve Nash, Phoenix has
averaged 59 wins over the last three seasons but lost each
year in the conference playoffs, in part, because they lacked
a big man.
General Manager Steve Kerr admitted he
heard the talk that the Suns were taking a risk by acquiring
O’Neal, who is several years past his prime and has been
battling nagging injuries.
"A lot of people have been talking the last
couple of days about what a gamble this is," he said. "Walking
into our locker room and seeing our players’ faces and seeing
their reaction to Shaquille told me all I need to know.
"This is a gamble that’s well worth
taking."
This season O’Neal has been hampered by
fitness problems and has averaged a career low 14 points while
missing 14 games due to a hip injury. He hopes to be back on
the court following the Feb. 17 All-Star game.
O’Neal, who won the NBA title three times
with the Los Angeles Lakers and once with the Heat two years
ago, said he is motivated by people who say his best years are
behind him.
"You guys think automatically I can’t run,
but hey, I love to run. Especially if I am playing with a
great guy like Steve Nash. I look forward to making people eat
their words.
"In traditional basketball, when a team
runs a lot, there’s always been somebody to ignite the (fast)
break. I’m going to be getting the rebound and going to ignite
that break.
"If I don’t get the rebound, I’m going to
be the first guy down the court because I know Nash is going
to be looking for me. It’s going to be fun."
O’Neal, who has a career 25.6 scoring
average over his 16-year NBA career, leaves a Miami team with
the worst record in the league at 9-38. He averaged 19.6
points during his four years with Miami.
"I’ve always proven the naysayers wrong,"
said O’Neal. "It’s all motivation. I’m very upset. You just
don’t want to get me upset.
"When I’m upset I’m known to do certain things like win
championships."
