Shaq Named First Team All-NBA

Shaquille O’Neal on Wednesday was named first team All-NBA for the first time, getting 103 of a possible 116 votes from a media panel in the United States and Canada to become the first Laker so honored since Magic Johnson in 1990-91.

O’Neal had previously finished on the second team (1994-95) and the third team (1996-97, 1995-96, 1993-94), but easily outdistanced David Robinson for the top spot at center this time around. Robinson got the other 13 first-team votes, and Dikembe Mutombo finished third.

“I’m happy,” O’Neal said. “Like I said, I should have been on that team three years ago.”

Karl Malone and Michael Jordan were the only unanimous choices. Tim Duncan and Gary Payton rounded out the top squad. The second team consisted of Grant Hill, Vin Baker, Tim Hardaway and Rod Strickland in addition to Robinson. Scottie Pippen, Glen Rice, Mitch Richmond, Reggie Miller and Mutombo were on the third team.

Eddie Jones didn’t not receive any first-place votes and finished far back in the pack among guards. Kobe Bryant was named on one third-place ballot.

O’Neal becomes the sixth Los Angeles Laker to make the first team. The five others have already had their uniforms retired and are either in the Hall of Fame or, in the case of Johnson, destined for enshrinement: Jerry West (10 selections), Elgin Baylor (nine), Johnson (nine), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (six) and Gail Goodrich (one).

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Laker players, while joining Coach Del Harris in acknowledging the impact of the noise level from Jazz supporters in the Delta Center, have also complained about ugly tactics from some, with Nick Van Exel calling fans there the worst he has seen.

“Ever,” Van Exel said.

Some Lakers said coins were thrown at the visitors’ bench during Games 1 and 2 of the Western Conference finals and several others said wadded paper or cups were hurled. Other fans made loud noises against the team bus, either by slamming their hands against it or throwing things.

“How are Mormons supposed to act?” Van Exel asked.

Not like that, someone told him.

“Lot of hypocrites in that crowd then,” he said.

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Robert Horry, who suffered a bruised right hip early in the second quarter and hobbled though the second half of Game 2, did not work out Wednesday as the Lakers returned to practice after a day off. But the starting power forward, limited to light shooting, said he will play in Game 3 on Friday.