At the team’s annual media event that was held at the Cleveland Clinic Courts Monday in Independence, the Cavaliers newest and biggest off season addition, Shaquille O’Neal did his best with the media to put his role in perspective alongside Lebron James.
“I’m 37 years old; it isn’t my time anymore,” O’Neal said. “I had my time, and I did what I did. I’m not one of those players that always thinks it is his time. It would not be advantageous for me to take 30 shots a game when you have a guy like [LeBron]. We’ll get him the ball and let him do what he does, and when he drops it off to me, I’ll do my job.”
“It is [LeBron’s] team, and he’s going to have the ball the most, and it is our job to make him look good,” O’Neal said. “I don’t have to say it, every team that has a great 1-2 punch with a guard and a big man, the guard has always been that guy and the big man has been the other guy. At this point in my career, I accept that.”
O’Neal won three championships alongside Kobe Bryant with the Lakers. He won one championship when he played for the Miami Heat alongside Dwyane Wade. Now his mission is to win his fifth championship, but this time will try to win it alongside Lebron for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Lebron is very excited about the possibility to have Shaq on his team:
“I never thought I’d play with Shaq,” James said. “I dreamed about it. I dreamed about playing with other Hall of Famers. This is great for the city, for the team and for me.”
“When you have a 1-2 punch like that, then they have to double-team somebody,” said James. “Now, we have another guy they have to double-team.”