Unselfish Shaq just wants to help Suns shine

"People are talking about what a gamble this is," Kerr said at a Thursday morning news conference at the US Airways Centre to introduce the newest member of the Suns. "Walking into our locker room last night and seeing our guy's faces and seeing their reaction to Shaquille told me all I need to know.

 "There's one reason to make this move, it makes us better. It gives us a better chance for success. This is a gamble well worth taking."

   Kerr along with Suns head coach Mike D'Antoni signed off on the deal Wednesday that sent four-time All-Star small forward Shawn Marion and backup point guard Marcus Banks to the Miami Heat in exchange for O'Neal, named one of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players.

 Slowed by a sore hip that has forced him to miss 14 games this season, resulting in career low averages of 14.2 points with 7.8 rebounds in 32 games, O'Neal is on the mend and ready to flex his muscles in the middle to help the Suns shine their way to their first NBA Championship.

 "Yesterday I was talking to my mother and I said, 'Mom everybody is talking about me,' and she said: 'It's not about you'."

   "The greatest potential of me is we. I was going to be coming to a fabulous team with unselfish players and great shooters. I just want to come, fit in with these guys, and do my part," he said.

 Once the focal point of the offence, the 7-foot-1, 325-pound O'Neal is ready to become the missing piece of a championship puzzle while vowing to make his teammates better.

 "l told coach I'm not a ball freak, I won't be asking for 30-40 touches a game," he said. "This team has always been there in the Western Conference, but they've never been able to get over the hump because of match-up problems. With the addition of me, we match up pretty well with whoever we're going to face."

   O'Neal related a story UCLA coaching legend John Wooden told him about greatness.

 "The true definition of a great player is how you make the players around you play," he said. "It's not about the points all the time, it's not about the flare, it's not what you do. I guarantee you I will make all these guys better."

   O'Neal promises to reinforce the Suns' confidence as well.

 "I'm trying to bring more positiveness to a team that already was positive," he said. "The first thing it takes in winning a championship is belief and if you believe you can do it, then you can get it done. With the addition of me, it gives guys the feeling we really have a shot."

   Much has been editorialized in the last 24 hours about how much gas O'Neal, nicknamed "The Diesel," has left in his tank, since the 16-year veteran will turn 36 in March.

 Purposely misunderstanding the question, he innocently said, "I haven't been to the gas station yet, I don't even have a car out here yet."

   Turning serious again, he said, "I think I have a lot left. I think I'm going to show what I can do inside of the coach's system and the players I got."

   O'Neal also sent a message to those same non-believers.

 "I've always proven the naysayers wrong, it's all motivation," he said. "I'm very upset, and you don't want to get me upset, because when I'm upset I'm known to do certain things like win championships. I look forward to making people eat their words, I really do."

   Turning selfish for a moment, O'Neal admits wanting a fifth and sixth NBA Championship ring to go along with the three he won with the LA Lakers and the one in Miami two years ago.

 That would put him closer to an elite class of winners.

 "Nobody is going to surpass (Boston's) Bill Russell's 11, but they're going to say, there's this other guy, named Shaq who has six, then Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan has six.

 "I am very selfish when it comes to how I want my story written when I'm done playing."

   Though O'Neal would not be so silly as to guarantee a championship this season, he said: "Start selling the T-shirts now, all the marketing people. I'm giving you this one for free: 'The Sun will rise'."

By Paul Levine, dpa