O’Neal: ‘I Won’t Be Devalued’

MINNEAPOLIS —  For years there has been only one NBA player who earned more than Shaquille O’Neal, and on Saturday afternoon O’Neal was in Kevin Garnett’s town.

These things matter to O’Neal.

Next year, O’Neal will earn $27.7 million. The following year, assuming he does not opt out of his Laker contract, he’ll take whatever part of $30.6 million the government allows him.

Garnett’s five-year, $100-million contract begins next season, so O’Neal’s check will be the largest in the league, just as he prefers it.

Nothing has changed in the negotiations for a contract extension between O’Neal’s people and the Lakers. They have spent several months $9 million apart over two seasons.

But, given O’Neal’s proximity to Garnett and O’Neal’s sudden touch at the free-throw line, there was little else to talk about.

“I haven’t really been in a prolonged discussion with Mitch [Kupchak] and them,” O’Neal said. “They know where I stand. I know where they’re standing. We’ll just have to see where it plays out.”

The Laker uneasiness lies in O’Neal’s age (32), his tendency to put on weight and their belief that his lower-leg injuries in recent seasons are a result of those things. He missed 15 games in each of the last three regular seasons because of foot, ankle and knee ailments.

Also, if O’Neal is making all of the money, Laker management believes, there will be little left for quality players to fill in around him.

There also is a sense in the organization that Kobe Bryant is the better long-term investment, and that owner Jerry Buss might someday have to choose one over the other.

“I won’t be devalued, never ever devalued,” O’Neal said. “I’m the one that’s bringing in the players anyway. I can bring the players in for no money. I’ve done that before. I’ve been the general manager of this team for the last two years. I don’t want to hear that about blah-blah-blah because I’m the one that’s bringing them in. I’m the one that’s making the phone calls to them. Seriously.

“Everybody wants to play with the Diesel because I make people’s games easy. They double or triple me, I kick it out to you for a wide-open easy shot and add years to your career. When you don’t play with me, you’ve got to do it on your own. It makes it much harder. A lot of people don’t understand that, but they will if they don’t make the right decision.”

In fact, O’Neal said, the contracts won’t end here.

“If I keep playing, my name will be inscripted in the NBA bible for many years to come,” he said. “That’s what it’s all about. That’s so kids 20 or 30 years down the line from now go, ‘Man, O’Neal had 90,000 points. He played until he was 60. And he was still asking for the maximum at 60.’ ”

*

Kareem Rush felt pain again in his right foot, but is expected to play tonight.