Category: In the News

Shaq hangs up his cape

By Mike Monroe
mikemonroe@express-news.net

The great center Shaquille O’Neal on Wednesday closed the book on a pro career that produced four NBA championships, one MVP Award, three Finals MVP Awards, 28,596 points, 13,099 rebounds, 2,732 blocked shots — and 5,317 missed free throws.

The 15-time All-Star has not yet officially informed the Boston Celtics, the last of six teams for which he played in 19 seasons, of his plans. But his announcement was enough for NBA commissioner David Stern to issue a statement expressing gratitude for all O’Neal had done for the sport.

A press conference is scheduled for Friday in Orlando.

An Achilles tendon injury that limited the 7-foot-1, 325-pound O’Neal to just 37 games this season led him to the conclusion it was time to hang up his size-22 sneakers.

“I’m going to miss the competition,” he said Wednesday on ESPN’s “SportsCenter.” “I’m going to miss … the chase for the ring. I’m actually going to miss everything.”

One thing O’Neal won’t regret: having to go to the foul line, where he made only 52.7 percent of the 11,252 free throws he attempted during his career. His free-throw struggles once led to a memorable exchange with Spurs coach Gregg Popovich before, and during, the opening game of the 2008-09 season.

Angry that Popovich had employed the “Hack-A-Shaq” defensive tactic in the Spurs-Suns first round playoff series the previous season, O’Neal called Popovich’s liberal use of fouls “cowardly” and promised to make the coach “pay for it.”

Popovich’s response was sarcasm:

“He said that? Why, I’m going to put him in a head lock and give him a Dutch rub, right in the old head lock, and he’ll pay for it, right in the old head lock.”

Then Popovich promised to consider fouling O’Neal on the very first play that night.

“Life is short,” he said. “We might as well enjoy ourselves.”

A dedicated prankster, O’Neal always enjoyed himself. So when Popovich ordered guard Michael Finley to foul him the first time the Suns had the ball, O’Neal glared at the Spurs’ bench, then cracked up when he saw a grinning Popovich giving him a thumbs-up.

Regarded by most as one of the top five centers in basketball history, O’Neal burst onto the national basketball scene during his high school days in San Antonio. The stepson of a U.S. Army sergeant stationed in the Alamo City, he led Cole High School to the 1989 Texas 3A state championship.

He went on to play three years at LSU, leaving after his junior year to enter the NBA draft. The No. 1 overall selection, by the Orlando Magic, he was NBA Rookie of the Year in 1992-93 and led the Magic to the NBA Finals in his third season. He left Orlando to sign a free-agent contract with the Lakers in 1996.

In eight seasons in Los Angeles, O’Neal enjoyed his greatest success, winning three straight Finals MVP Awards as the Lakers won titles in 2000, 2001 and 2002.

Amid widespread reports of disharmony between O’Neal and Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, O’Neal was traded to the Miami Heat after the Lakers fell to the Detroit Pistons in the 2004 Finals.

Popovich likened the change to the breakup of the Soviet Union.

O’Neal added a fourth championship ring to his collection when the Heat defeated the Mavericks for the 2006 title.

One of the most colorful players in league history, O’Neal dabbled in both entertainment and law enforcement. He released a rap album, “Shaq Diesel” that went platinum, and appeared in a feature film about college basketball, “Blue Chips.”

He was sworn in as a reserve police officer in Los Angeles, Miami and Maricopa County, Ariz.

He also was fond of giving himself nicknames, including Shaq Fu, The Diesel, Superman, Shaq Daddy, The Big Aristotle and The Big Cactus.

After he signed with the Boston Celtics for what would be his final season, he dubbed himself The Big Shamrock.

He has asked his fans to come up with a new name for his retired persona, expressing disappointment with the early leader: The Big 401K.

Bonner’s 3-point binge ranks as No. 9 best Spurs memory

In our look at the best Spurs memories of the past season, Matt Bonner’s early-season 3-point binge ranks as one of the best.

Here’s a look back at a night when Bonner couldn’t miss and how it helped fuel one of the Spurs’ most stunning comebacks to that point of the season.

No. 9: The Red Rocket’s 3-point blitz scorches Thunder

When: Nov. 14, 2010

Where: Oklahoma City Arena, Oklahoma City, Okla.

What happened: The Spurs struggled early, missing nine of their first 10 shots and falling into an early 12-point hole late in the first quarter. But Matt Bonner hit a deep three in the final 5 seconds of the first quarter and added three more to keep the Spurs close in the second quarter as they trailed for the entire first half.  He then sank three more during a 21-8 run to open the fourth quarter enabling the Spurs to cruise to their seventh straight victory with a 117-104 triumph. Bonner was a perfect 7-for-7 from 3-point range for a season-best 21 points.

What was said, Part I: “It was just one of those nights when I was feeling it,” Bonner, describing his career night to reporters after the game.  

What was said, Part II: “All it takes for him is just half a second. He’s a knockdown 3-point shooter. We didn’t do a good job on him. No excuses,” Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks, who described his team’s defensive struggles against Bonner to the Associated Press.

What was said, Part III: “Matty was huge, of course. When he shoots 7 for 3 on 3s, it gives you a lot of air on offense. He had great looks, great confidence, and he sank them all,” Manu Ginobili, analyzing Bonner’s huge game to the Express-News.  

What was said, Part IV: “I always think every one of them is going in, but this was just one of those nights when all of them did fall. You hit the first one, the second one, the third one, and then the hoop just keeps getting bigger and bigger,” Bonner, on his shooting binge to the Express-News.  

The upshot: Bonner’s big night came within one of the team’s record for consecutive 3-pointers in a game. Steve Smith hit all eight threes against Portland on Nov. 3, 2001. The victory extended San Antonio’s winning streak to seven games as they pushed their record to 8-1. At that point, it was the fastest start in team history.  It was Bonner’s third game since missing six games early in the season with an ankle sprain. And his perimeter binge enabled the Spurs to win despite hitting only 40.9 percent from the field in the game. Ginobili and Bonner led San Antonio with 21 points. The San Antonio defense tightened down the stretch, limiting Oklahoma City to only 38 points in the second half after permitting the Thunder to score 35 in the first quarter. Kevin Durant led the Thunder with 23 points — a season low for him at that point of the season.

Previous bad memories:

No. 10: .

No. 9: Black Friday fourth-quarter collapse leads to .  

Previous good memories:

No. 10: .

Draft prospect: Jeremy Tyler

The Spurs own the 29th pick in the June 23 draft, one of the lowest slots of the Tim Duncan era. This year’s draft pool is considered to be uncommonly shallow, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Spurs either deal the pick or select a future prospect to stash overseas. Over the next few weeks, the Courtside blog will profile selected players who could be wearing silver and black, should the Spurs decide to keep their pick.

In the summer of 2009, Jeremy Tyler announced he would forgo his senior season to turn pro. Happens every year, right?

Except, in Tyler’s case, he gave up his senior season of high school, instead opting to play professionally in Israel for $140,000. He lasted just 10 games with Maccabi Haifa before returning home to San Diego.

After spending last season in Japan with the Tokyo Apaches, and at least completing a full season, Tyler is now eligible for the NBA draft. That’s where the Spurs, possibly, could come in.

Tyler is big, listed at 6-foot-11 (though he measured just 6-9 shoeless at last month’s combine), athletic and certainly fills the Spurs’ most glaring position of need in this year’s draft. He is also young — he turned 20 on June 1 — and has demonstrated hints of immaturity throughout his professional career. Most notably, in 2009, he was suspended for a game in Israel for head-butting an opponent. This didn’t help his stock, either.

Tyler averaged 9.9 points and 6.4 rebounds for the Apaches last season, but also averaged just 15.4 minutes. Those numbers don’t exactly scream “immediate NBA contributor.”

Still, size is at a premium in the NBA, as evidenced by the amount of money Eddy Curry has accumulated throughout his career. Someone will take a chance on Tyler, though for now he has been projected as a high second-round pick. At No. 29, the Spurs would have to reach to take him.

There  is some precedent for a player skipping college to play overseas, then making a quick impact in the NBA. In 2009-10, Milwaukee’s Brandon Jennings went from the Italian Leagues to third in NBA Rookie of the Year balloting.

Some observers at last month’s draft combine compared Tyler to Ryan Richards, the teenage center from England the Spurs grabbed in the second round last season. With Richards already in the pipeline, and still likely a few years away from NBA consideration,  the Spurs might not be in the mood to take on another big, young project.

Then again, there are worse things than owning the draft rights to multiple big, young projects.

In all likelihood, Tyler will be available when the Spurs hit the clock at No. 29. If other names on their list have already been selected, they could take a look at him.