After one shortened season off the floor as an NBA analyst for TNT, four-time NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal may be on the verge of picking up a basketball once again. It’s highly unlikely that Shaq will ever play in the NBA again, but that hasn’t left other offers out of the question.
According to Marcelo Bousquet of ESPNDeportes via Twitter, Shaq might be on his way to Mexico to suit up one more time:
ATENTI: Shaq podria jugar 1 o 2 partidos de la temp 2012-13 de la Liga Mexicana con Fuerza Regia. Lo dijo el presidente Sergio Ganem
— Marcelo Bousquet (@MBousquetESPN) September 5, 2012
Here is the English translation of Bousquet’s tweet:
“Shaq could play one or two games at the 2012-13 Mexican Basketball League with Fuerza Regia, Fuerza Regia’s president Sergio Ganem said.”
Shaq was most recently in the headlines with the announcement of the Los Angeles Lakers retiring his jersey next season. Jamaal Wilkes will also receive the same honor while Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will be immortalized in front of Staples Center with a bronze statue.
After injuring his Achilles tendon simply walking up the floor while with the Boston Celtics in 2011, the three-time NBA Finals MVP and arguably one of the greatest centers to ever play the game knew it was time to call it a career. Along with struggling to stay in shape and healthy in the final years of his NBA career, Shaq wasn’t anywhere near the dominant force he once was with the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat.
As a result, the one of the biggest personalities the league has ever seen and one of the most successful at the center position decided it was time to walk away. Now Shaq is seen almost as much as he was on the floor with TNT and many other off-the-court appearances.
With that being said, it’s not much of a stretch to hear of Shaq playing a game or two in Mexico like another former Laker in Dennis Rodman did back in 2004.
Even though it won’t surprise many to see Shaq make the trip to Mexico, the former NBA superstar hasn’t committed to anything yet. Shaq has yet to accept or decline the offer from Fuerza Regia.
