Shaquille O'Neal, Happy in Cleveland, Quietly Leads the Way for Cavaliers

When the Cleveland Cavaliers take the court, an interesting phenomenon occurs.

All eyes are on the reigning MVP, LeBron James. Fans watch his every move as he smiles and makes his way to the scorer’s table, where he performs his signature chalk toss. He hugs his opponents, grabs the game ball from a referee, and ordains it fit for the evening’s festivities.

Meanwhile, just a few feet away, but light years from his former self, a calm, cool, and collected Shaquille O’Neal prepares for the opening tip. He patiently waits for James to make his rounds, then quietly steps into the center circle and locks horns with his rival as the game gets underway.

It’s a startling change from the O’Neal of old, and it’s working. The Cavaliers remain atop the NBA standings at the beginning of February, and Shaq’s presence is a major reason why.

An icon in his own right and one of the greatest players in NBA history, O’Neal has willingly taken a backseat to James and has found a home in Cleveland, the most unlikely of places for this larger-than-life legend.

What’s more, he’s happy in his role as second fiddle to The King and seems rejuvenated by the energetic play and unbridled joy of his Cavaliers teammates.

Things got off to a rocky start for O’Neal and the Cavs this season as the team tried to adapt its playing style to Shaq’s slow and steady pace. Despite dire signs early on, O’Neal, who will turn 38 next month, repeatedly assured fans and the media that things would come together and the Cavaliers would be fine.

He was right: They are fine, and he’s a major reason why.

Cleveland is currently riding an eight-game winning streak. With guards Mo Williams and Delonte West sidelined by injuries, O’Neal has assumed more of an offensive load and is averaging 16.5 points a game over that stretch. That’s a significant jump from his season average of 11.6 a contest.

Left alone in single coverage earlier this season by teams who mistakenly thought he was too old and too slow, O’Neal is once-again drawing the double-teams that he was so accustomed to during his first 15 years in the league.

Twice during the streak he poured in 22 points. Against the Clippers on Sunday, he had 16 points and 12 rebounds. All of this while still averaging about 25 minutes a game, something he appreciates and acknowledges will make him more effective in the postseason.

For O’Neal, things couldn’t be better. Earlier this week he told the Cleveland Plain Dealer that life with the Cavaliers has been “perfect.”

That’s due, in part, to his willingness to defer to James as the unquestioned star of the team.

“You have to be realistic,” he told the Plain Dealer . “You have to go with the times. I’ve seen it before. I’ve seen guys when they get older take a step back. I’ve seen David Robinson do it with Tim Duncan. I’ve seen Hakeem (Olajuwon) do it with Steve Francis….”

For O’Neal, deferring to James isn’t the same thing as shirking his role as the team’s elder statesman. Four rings and a Hall of Fame resume carry weight with his teammates, and Shaq isn’t shy about imparting words of wisdom—even to LeBron.

According to a column in the Akron Beacon Journal , O’Neal recently told James that Kobe Bryant has the will to never let his team lose. “I know you have that, but now it’s time for you to show you have that,” the story quoted Shaq as saying.

After that conversation, James led the Cavaliers on a sizzling month-long stretch that reasserted their claim to the top spot in the NBA.

When J.J. Hickson was inserted into the starting lineup by Mike Brown earlier this season, it was a test of the second-year pro’s courage and resolve. O’Neal offered words of encouragement, telling Hickson he reminded him of former Los Angeles Lakers teammate Cedric Ceballos, who averaged 14 points a game over an 11-year NBA career.

It’s that role of mentor that O’Neal has embraced, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed.

“He has made it extremely easy,” Brown told the Plain Dealer , referring to Shaq's willingness to fit in and do whatever is asked of him. “It has been fun to be around him. I’ve learned a lot from him in a short time already, not only on the floor but off the floor.”

“To have four championship rings and accept your role the way he has, has been remarkable.”