Shaquille O’Neal has shared his thoughts on LeBron James’ future in the NBA.
The former player, who spent eight years with the Los Angeles Lakers from 1996 to 2004, commented on James’ recent decision to leave the team as he approaches his unprecedented 24th season.
“Go where you can win, LeBron. When it’s over for us, it’s over,” O’Neal, 54, said in an exclusive interview with The California Post.
“I never want to sit back and say, ‘You should do this, you could do that.’ Whether it’s Cleveland, Golden State, Miami, or even Philadelphia.”
James, 41, surprised many in the sports community when he announced in June that he is leaving the Lakers. During his career, he has also played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat. Since signing with the Lakers in 2018, his stats have been quite impressive, averaging 25.9 points, 7.9 assists, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.2 steals.
The Lakers expressed their gratitude in a statement: “LeBron James is one of the greatest athletes in history, and we appreciate his contributions over the past eight years, including leading us to a championship in 2020 under difficult circumstances.” They added that he will always be part of the Lakers family.
In his response, James expressed his honor in wearing the Lakers colors, saying, “I hope I can make some people proud during my time here.”
Since his surprising announcement, fans have been speculating about where James might go next, with many guessing it could be the Warriors, Heat, or Cavaliers. However, no decisions have been finalized yet.
Meanwhile, O’Neal also spoke with Page Six while promoting his new true crime series “Game Day Murders,” which he helped produce. When asked about his interest in this project, he mentioned that he wants to blend his experiences as an athlete with his fascination for true crime.
“Game Day Murders” will premiere in Idaho on July 27 at 10 p.m. ET and will also be available for streaming on HBO Max.
The California Post noted that much of the NBA’s free agency activity is on hold as James considers his options, leaving many teams and players in a sort of limbo until he makes a final decision.
