Shaq would have retired had Pat Riley not returned

[MaxFly]

The Pat principle

Riley return kept Shaq from quitting

Had Pat Riley not come back to coach the Miami Heat this season, the NBA and the defending champs would be looking at the Big Retirement.
Yes, Shaquille O'Neal was ready to pack it in, walk away from the final four years and $80 million of his contract, if Riley chose to leave, according to sources.

But O'Neal will be in camp tomorrow - in what kind of shape is anyone's guess - as he prepares to start his 15th season and a run for a fifth ring.

Riley didn't formally announce until Aug. 23 what everyone thought was a virtual lock after the Heat won Game 6 of the NBA Finals in Dallas last June. Why would Riley ever step down when Dwyane Wade is only 24 and coming off a Finals MVP performance? Coaches just don't walk away from guys like Wade.

As Riley told South Florida reporters this past week, the first time he sat down to discuss his return, his decision was a "no-brainer."

Riley went on, "it has to do with this team and this time, what I think they need and what they expect from me and from this organization."

It's no secret that at this stage of O'Neal's career and approaching his 35th birthday, he isn't going to play for anyone but Riley. O'Neal doesn't need the money, and the way the league has outlawed his power game, forcing him to go almost exclusively with what he calls "my cute finesse game," he was all set to bow out if Riley had stepped aside. In fact, he didn't start working out until early in September, after Riley's announcement.

"'Just let it roll," Riley said, when asked how long he'll coach. "I don't put a number on it anymore, how long."

When Riley exits, so will O'Neal. That's the plan. Shaq can't overpower people like he once did and he's not the consistent force he was earlier, but he still has plenty of drive. Last June, even as he was averaging a pedestrian 13.7 points per game and 10 rebounds in the Finals, he wanted to show everyone that he could win a title without Kobe Bryant. Now, with Riley in place, O'Neal would like nothing more than to help get Miami back-to-back titles.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/ba...p-384755c.html

[HALLandOATES]

he's just saying that to sound content with his coach. He did the same with Phil.

[Fluffy Bird]

There is only so much Diesel left in the tank. he's got one or two more years anyways, so this is not huge news.

I do agree with Darryl and John above. Shaq has an inherent need to make people happy and he loves to shower his coaches with adulations and niceties

[BFRESH44]

Originally Posted by HALLandOATES

he's just saying that to sound content with his coach. He did the same with Phil.

^ He did say this, however nothing or the sort that he'd retire...

Shaq has never insinuated that even once. This is some dumb NY media writer speculating, providing no substantial evidence of this (there isn't even any named source quoted).

Nothing but a tabloid. Hardly credible...

Obviously SHaq was much in favor of Riley coaching as opposed to contine to play under SVG (the resume, the HOF stature of Riles over the unproven up & comming coach of Van Gundy), but he's never gone on record and said anything of this sort(ala he'd retire if Riles wans't the coach).


This a similar article like for one like last week(from another NY tabloid) stating that when Lebron and Wade 3 year contracts are up they're going to hook up & sign with the Knicks, LOL.