Los Angeles Lakers Blog – Page 110 – NBA Blog

Shaq rejected entrance by NYC club

Shaquille O’Neal couldn’t power his way through the lane at a New York nightclub this weekend — getting TURNED AWAY at the door … all because he was dressed like a lumberjack.

TMZ has learned … Shaq rolled up to nightclub/restaurant Mars 2112 on Saturday night wearing jeans, a sweatshirt, tennis shoes and a beanie (pictured above with random fan later that night).

But according to the club promoter, Mike Mogul, Shaq’s attire wasn’t up to club standards … so security politely informed the retired NBA star that he would not be allowed inside.

— Reported by TMZ

Shaq says not to rule out a Phil Jackson return to coaching

Former Knick and NBA coaching legend Phil Jackson, who has been rumored to be Mike D’Antoni’s replacement ever since he stepped down from the Lakers, could make a third comeback. That’s according to one of Jackson’s most prominent ex-players, Shaquille O’Neal.

O’Neal, who was in New York City on Wednesday taping a segment for Yes Network’s “CenterStage” show to promote his new book Shaq Uncut, told a small group of reporters to never rule out Jackson’s return to the bench.

“He may come back,” O’Neal said. “Phil always says he’s never coming back.”

O’Neal said Jackson “changed my NBA career,” and that lasting impact would mean something to Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire. That’s because Jackson has had plenty of experience managing and developing two superstars, and getting them to gel with each other, from Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen to O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. O’Neal credited Jackson’s scientific approach, from his demeanor to his routine, for how he became the Zen Master.

— Reported by Jared Zwerling of ESPN New York

Matt Barnes still likes Orlando despite ugly exit

From pump-faking a pass inches from Kobe Bryant’s face to threatening to put his son’s dirty diaper into Lamar Odom’s mouth, the phrase “Matt Barnes will kill you” – which an Orlando-based clothing company put on T-shirts – wasn’t too much of a stretch.

That’s why Magic fans loved Barnes during his one-year stint in Orlando in the 2009-10 season: His antics gave the Magic a toughness and swagger they previously lacked, and he always stood up for his teammates.

He plays for the Los Angeles Lakers now – the Magic let him walk when he opted out of his two-year deal last summer – but he still remembers his year in Orlando fondly.

“I had a really good time when I was out here,” he said. “My neighborhood, my teammates, everything.”

— Reported by Zach McCann of the Orlando Sentinel Blog

David Stern urges NBA players to accept offer

David Stern has been active on the airwaves, the Internet and, in a new one, on Twitter, trying to tell fatigued fans and an irritated set of NBA players about the need to sign on the dotted line.

Monday is the newest “most important day” of the 138-day NBA lockout. Player representatives for all 30 NBA teams will meet in New York and determine whether they will take the latest offer from NBA owners.

A majority of responses from players and their agents indicated there would be a rejection of the proposal that promised a 72-game season starting Dec. 15.

A lot has to happen this week for there to be basketball by Christmas. Stern knows it too.

The NBA commissioner lambasted player agents in a conference call with reporters Saturday and held a 90-minute “Twitterview” with players, fans and journalists Sunday, sending some final public thoughts in 140 characters or less.

He made some intriguing points, admitting that contraction of teams was discussed by players and owners but dismissed; all NBA executives took pay cuts of unspecified proportion; and players’ contracts would become void if decertification occurred (more of a threat than anything).

— Reported by Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times

Shaq wishes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was a better mentor

It turns out Andrew Bynum has already accomplished something that Shaquille O’Neal never will.

The current Lakers center received personal instruction from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, while the former Lakers center wishes he could have benefited from such teaching. Although he notes in his book that LSU Coach Dale Brown once brought Abdul-Jabbar onto campus to teach O’Neal the sky hook, the Big Fella believes Cap didn’t offer much support as a pro.

“Kareem was never around,” O’Neal wrote in “Shaq Uncut: My Story,” co-written by Jackie MacMullan. “And, whenever I did see him, he usually ignored me. The disappointing thing to me was, being in LA all those years and trying to fill those shoes, I would have liked to have a conversation with him.”

This episode has everything to do with both Abdul-Jabbar’s introverted and often downright unfriendly personality as well as Shaq’s own insecurities. After all, Abdul-Jabbar sounded more than willing to help Bynum as a Lakers special assistant coach when he was approached about it. It also reveals the mixed reception O’Neal received among former and current centers.

— Reported by Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Times Blog

Magic Johnson still beating HIV 20 years later

If Magic Johnson had known just how well he could live with HIV, he wouldn’t have retired from the Lakers on Nov. 7, 1991.

Johnson would never change what he did for the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic when he publicly revealed his diagnosis to a stunned world. His courage that day, along with two subsequent decades of vibrant living, forever altered attitudes about the virus and its effects.

Magic is simply glad the world knows such happy endings are possible with access to treatment and vigilance.

“At that time, it was the right decision,” Johnson said Monday on the 20th anniversary of his stunning retirement. “If I knew what I knew today, that I could still play basketball and do my thing, I probably wouldn’t have retired. But I’m a guy that doesn’t have regrets. I don’t look back. I’m happy, because I wanted to be here a long time. We made the right call at that time.”

Johnson recognized the occasion at Staples Center on Monday with an upbeat celebration and a message of steadfastness. Dozens of politicians, celebrities and Lakers greats from Jerry West and Pat Riley to James Worthy and Michael Cooper joined Johnson and AIDS researcher David Ho for a luncheon, and the Magic Johnson Foundation announced a $1 million gift to continue its mission for worldwide HIV awareness and testing.

Two decades after his shocking admission and quick retirement at 32, Johnson’s doctors say he’s a 52-year-old specimen of health, comfortably managing HIV with a daily regimen of drugs and exercise.

— Reported by Greg Beacham of the Associated Press

Shaq book places blame on Mitch Kupchak

O’Neal speaks of Kupchak in only six pages of the 281-page “Shaq Uncut: My Story,” co-written by Jackie MacMullan, slated for a Nov. 15 release. But that’s enough prose to label Kupchak as the main culprit behind Shaq’s hasty departure from the Lakers.

According to the book, Kupchak promised to grant Shaq a contract extension following the 2003-04 season and not to discuss their contract negotiations publicly. Once the 2003-04 season ended, however, O’Neal was disturbed by an apparent interview in which Kupchak revealed the Lakers’ plan to hold onto Bryant while keeping their options open with O’Neal.

“That was it. That was the end of me in a Lakers uniform. Mitch broke our agreement. How could I trust him again?” Shaq writes in the book. “For months, I kept waiting for Mitch to come to me and say, ‘Shaq, you’re getting older, we need some new players. Mr. Buss doesn’t want to pay you and Kobe doesn’t want you here.’ But that conversation never happened. So that was when I demanded a trade. I couldn’t trust Mitch anymore and it was clear Kobe was now the one with all the power.”

— Reported by Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Times Blog

Stephen Curry, Dorell Wright shine in Matt Barnes San Jose charity basketball game

A game that was supposed to help Warriors fans heal from the dismantling of the 2007 “We Believe” squad turned into a night filled with hope for the future when Davis said, “What’s up Bay Area?” and then pointed toward the Warriors’ baby-faced No. 30.

“Stephen Curry: The future,” Davis announced.

Curry had 34 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds in the current Warriors’ 158-153 victory over the “We Believe” squad, putting to rest many of the “what-ifs” that remained regarding the disassembled playoff squad of 2007.

“The future sounds about right to me,” said swingman Dorell Wright, who led all scorers with 41 points. “Coming from B.D., that means a lot. He’s a brilliant person who puts his mind into everything. If he puts his stamp on something like that, he means it.” …

The game raised funds for the Athletes vs. Cancer Foundation, a charity created by Matt Barnes, whose gritty play is a microcosm of the 2007 team.

Barnes was joined by former teammates Jason Richardson and Harrington, and former Warriors who weren’t on that squad (Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison, C.J. Watson, Anthony Morrow and Corey Maggette).

The current “Dubs” lineup featured Curry, David Lee and Wright, while reserves Lou Amundson, Charlie Bell, Jeremy Lin and Jeremy Tyler also played. Ellis (family matter) and Biedrins (overseas) didn’t show, and Ekpe Udoh was in street clothes, along with rookies Klay Thompson and Charles Jenkins.

— Reported by Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle

Shaq sues former IT employee over selling of personal emails

Shaquille O’Neal is suing a former information technology employee the former NBA great claims invaded his privacy by selling personal emails that damaged his reputation.

The lawsuit was filed against Shawn Darling in Miami-Dade Circuit Court. It seeks an injunction barring Darling from providing O’Neal’s emails to anyone, unspecified damages and the return of all O’Neal’s private electronic messages.

O’Neal paid Darling up to $150 an hour for IT work.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Derek Fisher threatens legal action due to column

After a column by Fox Sports’ Jason Whitlock suggested that NBA Players Union President Derek Fisher was working with commissioner David Stern during labor negotiations, behind the back of his NBPA colleagues, Fisher has threatened legal action against Fox Sports if he does not receive a retraction.

Whitlock, who cited sources in this report, said that Fisher hopes to work with an NBA team or with the league after his retirement and was looking to work out a deal with Stern that would force the players to settle for a 50-50 split of basketball-related income. The players’ association is seeking a 52-48 split and those two percentage points are the main point of contention between the sides. The NBA lockout has lasted more than four months.

— Reported by Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe