Per Wiretap: Shaq's Pickup Games in NYC

[PHXfan85]

Suns center Shaquille O'Neal has been seen recently playing pickup basketball at the Reebok Sports Club on Columbus Avenue in New York City, according to The New York Post.

O'Neal averaged 13.6 points and 9.1 rebounds per game for Phoenix in twenty-eight games after being traded from Miami.

Shaq active in the offseason, what?

[The Diesel]

Hopefully he shows up in great shape this season because it's probably his last chance to win another Championship.

[The Diesel]

Perhaps he was playing pick-up basketball with Steve Nash? Doesn't Nash spend a lot of time there during the Summer?

Did the article mention which other NBA players Shaq was playing with?

Thanks.

[PHXfan85]

What I quoted was the article in its entirety. That would be cool if he was playing with Nash cuz if I'm not mistaken he does spend time is NYC during the offseason. I think he owns a house there. At any rate, I don't think he was playing with Nash, otherwise that would have been included in the article.

[NashtyNas]

Thats AMAZING news. Keep up the good work Mr. O'Neal.

[Sun Scorched]

Best part of that article is realizing (or remembering) that Shaq was almost a 320 pound double-double for us. I had forgotten what his stats looked like with us for that last stretch before the playoffs.

Get him healthy and put him through a full pre-season with our guys... he'll average a double-double. That's not bad, all things considered.

[The Diesel]

Shaq rebounded the ball GREAT when he came to Phoenix; he was healthy and it showed compared to when he was in Miami pre-trade and wasn't rebounding well because of the deep thigh bruise he had which was limiting his jumping ability.

But why isn't he in Phoenix working with the team's medical staff which did such a great job with him when he came to Phoenix?

[PHXfan85]

Shaq rebounded the ball GREAT when he came to Phoenix; he was healthy and it showed compared to when he was in Miami pre-trade and wasn't rebounding well because of the deep thigh bruise he had which was limiting his jumping ability.

But why isn't he in Phoenix working with the team's medical staff which did such a great job with him when he came to Phoenix?

Well, clearly it's because he has to hold down the court against pickup scrubs in NYC.

I wonder if he has done any work with the medical staff during this off-season. That's a good question.

[Miklo]

I'm obviously wrong as evidenced by this article, but I thought players were restricted from playing pickup? Or is that NCAA? Or am I just an idiot?

[Sun Scorched]

NCAA players play pick-up all the time... at least they do at SMU, but we suck so maybe nobody cares...

[TXSun]

just get in playing shape and play like if you have something to prove, that's all I'm asking. We need Shaq to be on his A game this season to bring home the 'ship. Keep working hard Shaq!

[The Diesel]

I think Shaq will be VERY motivated this year, but it's his injuries that concern me.

He gets injured all the time, unfortunately.

[eastsidecrossover]

I think he will be a double double guy, and hope he comes into camp a little slimer than that 340.

[eastsidecrossover]

This is what I want to hear from the fans in US Airways center this season when shaq dunks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IP3zQUFnG9k