After Sunday's All-Star Game, Shaquille O'Neal's father blasted Pat Riley for limiting the playing time of the much-hyped rookie.
Of course a father complaining about a son's playing time is about as old as dirt, but by relying mainly on veterans during the final stages of the National Basketball Association All-Star Game, Riley clearly irked some young stars on his East squad.It was Patrick Ewing, O'Neal's backup and Riley's everyday starting star for the Knicks, who made the 15-foot jumper to send the game into overtime.
But O'Neal and Charlotte's Larry Johnson, who were two of the fans' choices, were clearly upset over their lack of playing time.
The 20-year-old O'Neal looked despondent after the game and said he had been "wondering" when he'd get back in after being on the bench for much of the game.
O'Neal played 25 minutes but only 11 after halftime, returning to the game late in the fourth quarter and playing in most of the overtime. He scored 14 points and grabbed 7 rebounds, but scored just 1 point in the second half and didn't block a shot.
"I was anxious to get in, real anxious to get in," O'Neal said. "I was wondering, `When am I going to get back in?' I guess Pat Riley wanted more experience down the stretch."
Johnson seemed a little more upset about sitting. He took his 16 minutes of action and 37 minutes of inaction as a major slap in the face.
"You don't do that to me," Johnson said. And he warned that the next time the Hornets play the Knicks, "I'll score 80 on them."
"This game is Larry's first All-Star Game," said Riley. "It's the first of 12 or 15 that he'll have.