As you’ve probably heard, the Indiana Pacers need a center. Myles Turner signed with the Milwaukee Bucks, leaving the Pacers, right now, with Tony Bradley and (maybe) Isaiah Jackson (he’s a restricted free agent) at the position on the roster.
But there is a free agent with a long history with the Pacers who thinks he could help out in a very specific situation: Jermaine O’Neal.
“I like my chances against anyone in the post,” O’Neal, 46, said during a visit to The Dan Patrick Show. “If we’re talking full court, I’m not doing that. These legs don’t have that much gas.”
O’Neal said he’d dunked as recently as a month ago and that he could lead any rec league in scoring.
“I try to stay in pretty good shape,” O’Neal said. “Every year I have kids from my school or my club that want to challenge me 1-on-1. I’m the old guy they think they can beat. I have to remind them I got paid to do this. I’m not going to allow a teenager to beat me.”
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O’Neal made six all-star teams with the Pacers from 2001-2008, was All-NBA three times and Most Improved Player in 2001-02. He averaged 18.6 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.4 blocks.
Patrick immediately started asking O’Neal who he could beat, including No. 1 draft pick Cooper Flagg, Victor Wembanyama and LeBron James.
“Just straight post work? I think I have a chance,” O’Neal said. “Throw me the ball in the post, 1-on-1, I still like my chances because I’m still nimble. Mano a mano, I’ve got a chance. I have a chance to win in a 1-on-1, whether I win or not, we’ll see.”
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