Basketball Hall of Fame and TNT analyst Shaquille O’Neal said he wasn’t mocking Lakers star Anthony Davis for leaving Game 5 injured, but O’Neal added that he “sucked it up” and played through injuries in important games of his career. Here’s what you need to know:
- O’Neal and co-analyst Charles Barkley faced criticism for laughing at TNT’s postgame show while discussing Davis leaving the Lakers’ Game 5 loss to Golden State with a head injury.
- Davis took an elbow to the face from Warriors center Kevon Looney during the fourth quarter and was hauled to the locker room in a wheelchair. team sources said the athlete He was dizzy leaving the ground.
- Regarding laughter, O’Neill said, “It didn’t matter what we were laughing at. I’m laughing at (Barkley), he’s laughing at me. I’m not going to get into it.”
What O’Neill said
On whether or not he was making fun of Davis’ injury, O’Neal said, “I’m not making fun of anyone, it’s not what I do. But I know you’re not going to stop me from playing in that Game 6.”
O’Neal, 51, added that he won’t let the injury stop him from the shutout game, which the Lakers had on Wednesday night and will host again on Friday.
“Do you see why I walk so funny?” O’Neill said. “Because I sucked it. See why my toes don’t bend? Because I sucked it.”
A four-time NBA champion and former MVP, O’Neal retired in 2011 after a 19-year career with six teams, including the Lakers.
background story
O’Neal’s comments came Thursday at the opening of “Compaq Court” at the Shaquille O’Neal Boys and Girls Club in Henry County, south of Atlanta.
Davis avoided concussion protocol and is likely to play in Game 6, Lakers coach Darvin Hamm said Thursday.
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