In some ways, the relationship is the same as ever. One is the star, the other is part of the supporting cast.
Even now, there is nothing subtle about the 7-foot-1-inch, 325-pound master who traffics in intimidation. And there is nothing retiring about the 6-6, 200-pound veteran who, as his 15.8-point playoff scoring average attests, shoots with such confidence.
But in this go-around, acrimony has given way to harmony. Shaquille O’Neal, a 13-year veteran, and Eddie Jones, in his 11th season, have aged well. And their newly discovered ability to collaborate is a key reason the Miami Heat is steaming toward Tuesday night’s Game 4 nursing a 2-1 lead over the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference finals.
“He’s playing fabulous in the playoffs. [Sunday] night was a close game, and he came out and hit a big three and kind of put them away,” O’Neal said Monday in reference to Jones’ fourth-quarter three-pointer that cut a five-point Pistons lead to two in Miami’s 113-104 victory.
Jones returned the praise.
“He looked good,” said Jones, referring to O’Neal’s 24-point, six-rebound performance. “He was moving well. Whenever he got the ball in the post, he made strong moves.”
Their regard for each other wasn’t always so respectful. O’Neal and Jones played together for 2 1/2 years with the Lakers in the late 1990s. Back then, O’Neal could be brusque in offering advice, Jones defensive upon hearing it.
“When I first played with Eddie, I used to yell at him a lot and jump on him a lot because that was the only way I knew to get him to play,” O’Neal said. “But now there’s just a different respect and a different relationship.”
The result? A Heat team that O’Neal says is remarkably free of controversy and contention.
“It’s the first time in my career and his career that we don’t have players that have individual agendas,” O’Neal said. “We don’t have players trying to do their own things. Everybody here’s on the same page.”
The only thing on that page, said teammate Dwyane Wade, is winning. Jones’ production exemplifies that.
“Eddie is a guy that has taken shots over the years about him not being a clutch performer,” Wade said. “But in this playoff run that we’re having, Eddie has hit numerous big shots for us. He does everything he needs to do to help this team win. He’s not trying to be the best player in the league. He’s trying to be the best winner in the league.”
Jones has never won an NBA title. O’Neal led the Lakers to three titles after Jones was traded from Los Angeles to the Charlotte Hornets in 1999. But now the two share a singular goal–an NBA championship in 2005.
For Jones, it would be the pinnacle of a solid career.
“I’ve never experienced a championship year, so hopefully this is the year, and later on I could tell you about it,” Jones said.
For O’Neal, it would be one more argument toward cementing his legacy as one of the best ever to play the game.
After all he has accomplished, does his legacy need any burnishing?
“Oh, yeah,” O’Neal said. “In order for me to look at my [kids] and really tell them I’m the man, I need six.”
O’Neal and Jones know they need each other.
“He’s different as a player because he’s older,” O’Neal said. “He understands that me and him only have three or four years left. We want to get it done now and just keep getting it done.”
