Shaq Wants To Own An NBA Team in Newark

I’m not really sure that the Nets moving to Brooklyn necessarily opens up a vacancy in New Jersey for a future NBA franchise to replace them, but I guess Shaq feels differently. Or maybe he just wants to bring an NBA franchise to his hometown, kinda like Mr. Carter is sorta doing for his.  

Whatever the case, in a recent Q & A with The New York Times Blog Off the Dribble, the newly retired Shaquille O’Neal talked about owning an NBA team one day down the road.

Q – You’ve talked about owning a team someday. Do you still want to do that?

A – Yes. And I’m looking forward to bringing a team to Newark. I haven’t spoken to Mayor Booker about it yet, but I’m working on it. I know Newark can support an N.B.A. team. And I’m going to be one of the guys that’s going to bring a team there.

To be honest, I’ve never thought Newark, New Jersey, that’s a city that really should have an NBA team, but what do I know.  I also never really thought Oklahoma City needed a squad either, but things seem to be working out okay for them.  

As far as the team currently in New Jersey, Shaq says he doesn’t know who they are.

Q – How will the Knicks and Nets do [this season]?

A – With the Knicks, Carmelo and Amare got together late. I think with a full season together they’ll be much better. The Nets? I don’t know who the Nets are.

Additionally, O’Neal talked about his eventual pairing with Charles Barkley in the TNT studios whenever this lockout ends.

Q – The pressing question fans want answered about the upcoming season is will Charles Barkley give you any airtime on TNT broadcasts?

A – I’m going to get all the airtime. I’m going to handle him like I’ve always handled him. I’m going to knock him out if I have to.

I seriously think those shows are going to be great. Unlike this Kobe Bryant talk, that won’t seem to go away.

Q – Kobe Bryant reportedly criticized you when he was in Italy recently. “I like players who workout,” Bryant said, according to a post on Sportando. “I use to do that 6, 7 hours per day. I cannot stand players who practice for 30 minutes. I need to say something to them.” Any response?

A – No. I don’t need to work out. My numbers speak for itself. My three Finals M.V.P.s speaks for itself.

I may have missed this entire story, but I don’t really see how Kobe was definitely criticizing Shaq in this interview with Sportando – which had to be translated since it is a website that does not report news in English – but whatever.  

I’d like to think Shaq would be a pretty awesome NBA owner and I imagine his squad would have a pretty good nickname too.  Hopefully that happens someday.

Photo: TK Newz

About Brendan Bowers

I am the founding editor of StepienRules.com. I am also a content strategist and social media manager with Electronic Merchant Systems in Cleveland. My work has been published in SLAM Magazine, KICKS Magazine, The Locker Room Magazine, Cleveland.com, BleacherReport.com, InsideFacebook.com and elsewhere. I've also written a lot of articles that have been published here.

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