New Sun Shaq to sit out today against Sonics

PHOENIX — This time there would be no confetti, Super Soaker water guns or news helicopters circling in the sky.

After the third team change in his illustrious career, Shaquille O'Neal didn't ride to US Airways Arena in an 18-wheel diesel truck and he didn't step out onto a red carpet to greet thousands of adoring fans like he did nearly four years ago in Miami.

The circus surrounding O'Neal, who was introduced as the newest Phoenix Sun at a news conference Thursday morning, is more subdued these days. But it's still a circus, and the 7-foot-1, 325-pound center is still the ringmaster.

Everything in his life — his personality, basketball resume and designer suits — is larger than life, but his boasts are smaller than ever before. On that sun-drenched day in South Florida in July 2004, O'Neal declared: "I'm going to bring a championship to Miami. I promise."

This time, the Diesel played it low key and said: "I just want to come fit in with these guys and just do my part."

Seated between general manager Steve Kerr and coach Mike D'Antoni, O'Neal, who turns 36 next month, playfully bantered with the media and answered questions about his age, his injured left hip, his conditioning, his ego, his legacy and his plan to make Amare Stoudemire "the top power forward in the league."

The four-time NBA champion, 14-time All-Star and future Hall of Famer described what is believed to be an icy relationship with Heat coach Pat Riley as "professional" and spoke of his desire to win a fifth and sixth championship, but stopped short of guarantees.

"Not yet," said O'Neal, who has missed 14 games because of inflammation in his hip and thigh. "Let me get a few practices under my belt."

He's expected to return to Miami for a brief stay and will not play tonight against the visiting Sonics (13-36), who have won four of their past five games.

The Western Conference-leading Suns (34-15) will start Stoudemire at center alongside forwards Grant Hill and Boris Diaw and guards Raja Bell and two-time MVP Steve Nash. O'Neal said he'd like to make his Suns debut before the All-Star break, which begins Feb. 15.

"He's been out for a couple of days, and so we've got to gradually get him in. And whether that's in five days or 10 days, I don't know that," D'Antoni said. "There's no rush, but at the same time we want to get started as soon as we can."

Kerr admitted trading four-time All-Star Shawn Marion and guard Marcus Banks for an aging, injury-plagued center who has two years and $40 million left on his contract is a gamble. O'Neal is averaging 14.2 points and 7.8 rebounds this season, career lows in a 16-year run that has included stints with Orlando, the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami.

There's also the prevailing opinion among skeptics who believe adding O'Neal to the Suns' fast-breaking team is like tying an anchor to the back of a speed boat.

"The last couple years I was in a system that we really didn't run," O'Neal said. "So you guys automatically think I can't run, but I love to run, especially if I'm playing with a great guy like Steve Nash. And I look forward to making people eat their words. I do, I really do."

He added: "It's all motivation. I'm very upset, you just don't really want to get me upset. When I'm upset I'm known to do certain things, like win championships."

Several Suns players, coaches and administrators stood in the back of a crowded room during O'Neal's news conference, including Hill, who has a long history of injuries and has seemingly discovered a fountain of youth in his first season in Phoenix.

Hill, 35, believes O'Neal will benefit from the progressive medical techniques used by the Suns.

"I've got goose bumps like I'm the one up there on stage," Hill said. "I'm excited. That's what Shaq does. Wherever he goes, he has that effect on people."

Note

• Sonics C Kurt Thomas, F Wally Sczcerbiak and G Delonte West were limited in practice, but they're expected to be available tonight. Seattle has lost twice this season to Phoenix.

Percy Allen: 206-464-2278 or pallen@seattletimes.com