Jermaine O’Neal will finish season with Suns
by Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY Sports
Veteran big man Jermaine O’Neal, one of the NBA’s all-time good guys, will finish a season that has been stressful professionally and personally with the Phoenix Suns.
Briefly considering trying to reach a buyout with the Suns so he could join a contender in the dusk of 17-year-career, O’Neal told USA TODAY Sports in a text message that he will not seek a buyout.
O’Neal was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat in January, and his 13-year-old daughter, Asjia, will undergo heart surgery in early March.
“I have a tough situation coming up with my daughter,” O’Neal told The Arizona Republic last week. “She’s having heart surgery in Boston on March 5. She has a leaky valve that has to be corrected because her body is having to work too hard. She is having chest pains.
“For me, it’s one thing after another. … Every time I think about basketball, real life tends to talk to me a little bit. My focus is to finish my job and what I signed up to do.”
O’Neal also had a verbal dispute with Suns GM Lance Blanks that led some to believe he was unhappy with the coaching situation. He is having a decent season with the struggling Suns. In 16.9 minutes per game, O’Neal is averaging 7.2 points and 4.9 rebounds. Take a closer look at O’Neal per-38 minutes totals (15.4 points, 10.4 rebounds) — not bad for a 34-year-old with lots of miles.
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