Shaq tells LeBron the place to play subsequent after Lakers departure

Shaquille O’Neal is weighing in on LeBron James’ NBA future.

The retired athlete — who performed eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers from 1996 to 2004 — addressed James’ resolution to go away the California-based staff forward of his unprecedented twenty fourth NBA season.

“Go the place you may win, LeBron. When it’s over for us, it’s over,” O’Neal, 54, solely instructed the California Put up in a brand new interview. 

“You by no means wish to sit again and say, ‘I shoulda, I coulda, I woulda.’ I might say [go to] Cleveland, Golden State, Miami and even Philly.”

James, 41, shocked the sports activities world in June when he introduced he was leaving the Lakers after eight seasons, having beforehand performed with the Cleveland Cavaliers (2003 to 2010, 2014 to 2018) and Miami Warmth (2010 to 2014). He averaged 25.9 factors, 7.9 assists, 7.7 rebounds and 1.2 steals since becoming a member of the Lakers as a free agent in 2018.

“LeBron James is among the best athletes in historical past. We’ll all the time be glad about his eight years with the Lakers — together with the title he led us to in 2020 underneath the hardest possible circumstances and the numerous information he broke in purple and gold,” Lakers proprietor Jeanie Buss mentioned in an announcement on the time.

“We want him all the very best sooner or later, each on the courtroom and off. He’ll all the time be a cherished a part of the Lakers household.”

In response to the publish, James wrote, “No, THANK U! Really a honor to put on the [purple and gold] whereas making an attempt to persevering with the greatness & legacies that got here earlier than me! Hope I made a couple of proud throughout my stint.”

Because the shocking announcement, followers have patiently been ready for any information concerning James’ subsequent transfer. Whereas many have speculated that the four-time NBA Champion will probably land with the Warriors, Warmth or Cavaliers, no selections have been made presently.

The California Put up reported Tuesday that almost all of the NBA’s free company enterprise stays on maintain whereas James weighs his choices on the place to play subsequent.

Insiders instructed us that a number of groups and gamers inside the league are at present in “a holding sample” till the athlete finalizes his resolution on the place he’ll end out his NBA profession.

As for O’Neal, he solely spoke with Web page Six whereas selling his new true crime sequence, “Sport Day Murders,” which he government produced for Right now Investigation Discovery.

“I’ve been a sports activities man, I’ve been a real crime man, and eventually, we’re going to merge the 2 collectively,” he defined, when requested why he determined to tackle the undertaking. 

Calling himself a “true crime junkie,” the Lakers legend famous that he likes it as a result of “all people has that detective in them.”

“Sport Day Murders,” hosted by veteran sports activities broadcaster Lindsay Czarniak, premieres July 27 at 10 p.m. ET on ID.

The sequence can be obtainable for streaming on HBO Max.

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