Jermaine O'Neal Posts Instagram Message Regarding NBA Future
Over the past few weeks, Jermaine O'Neal has been working out with several NBA teams with the perceived hope of potentially signing with a contender down the stretch. But those plans have now been put on hold, and O'Neal's future in the NBA is in question.
On Monday evening, O'Neal posted the following on Instagram:
Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News has more from O'Neal:
This comes on the heels of the Dallas Mavericks making it known they wouldn't be signing O'Neal, via Marc Stein of ESPN:
O'Neal, 36, played in 44 games last season for the Golden State Warriors, averaging 7.9 points and 5.5 rebounds in 20.1 minutes per game. In his 18-year career spent between the Portland Trail Blazers, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns and Warriors he's averaged 13.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game.
O'Neal played in six All-Star games, was voted the 2001-02 NBA Most Improved Player and made the All-NBA third team twice (2001-02 and 2002-03) and the All-NBA second team once (2003-04).
It seems likely that this is the end of the road for O'Neal, though he could always take this season off and try to make a comeback next year. Still, spending a year away from the NBA and attempting to make a comeback at the age of 37 would be a pretty tall task.
If O'Neal does decide to call it quits for good, he's walking away after an excellent career.
