LOS ANGELES — Shaquille O'Neal of the Los Angeles Lakers is scheduled to undergo surgery next week to correct a claw toe deformity.
Surgery on the small toe on the 7-foot-1 center's left foot is scheduled for Wednesday and will be performed by team physicians Dr. Steve Lombardo and Dr. Phil Kwong.
The Lakers said Friday that O'Neal is not expected to miss any regular season games. Team officials said more details on O'Neal's injury would be released following the surgery.
The 29-year-old O'Neal was the playoff MVP for the second consecutive year when the Lakers defeated Philadelphia in June to win back-to-back NBA championships.
O'Neal missed six games last season because of a strained arch in his right foot.
Lakers starting guard Derek Fisher (foot) and backup forward Mark Madsen (shoulder) both had off-season surgery and are not expected to be ready for the start of the season.