O’Neal May Play in Greece

After months of dismissing the possibility, Shaquille O’Neal is considering playing beside Laker teammates Kobe Bryant and Karl Malone in this summer’s Olympics.

On the chance O’Neal decides to take part, his representatives have been working to complete administrative paperwork through the USA Basketball Senior National team, chaired by NBA vice president Stu Jackson, for the past two months.

Also, according to a source, O’Neal was to submit to the standard Olympic drug test Wednesday, though it was unclear whether the sample was received.

Asked if he would play in Athens, which would be his second Olympic team, O’Neal said, “I don’t know yet. They are asking me. I haven’t decided yet.”

Previously, O’Neal had said he would participate only if Phil Jackson were named coach. The USA Basketball committee selected Larry Brown.

Before he committed, O’Neal probably would consider a handful of factors, including how deep into summer the Lakers play and how his body holds up.

Malone said he’d spoken briefly with O’Neal about joining him in Athens, and added, “That’s a call he’s got to make.”

None of the three Laker Olympians could guarantee the committee he would be involved.

By August, Bryant could be involved in a sexual assault trial, O’Neal could decide he needs the summer off, and Malone, as he said Wednesday, would not play if his right knee is not healed.

“My worst thing is not to be 100% and go over there and aggravate it,” Malone said. “I want to be healthy. I’m not going to jeopardize my health to be on the team.”

If their schedules blended, it would be unique to have three players from one franchise on the same U.S. Olympic roster. But, and even assuming the three of them are Lakers next season, Jackson said there would be risks.

“Players have to register what it means to them at their career level, what time they are in their career right now,” Jackson said. “For Karl, he’s a bionic man. He can play, he stays in shape, it’s something to keep him in shape. For Shaq, it may not be a great idea. It may be a great idea. He has to weigh that himself.”

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According to Craig Miller, spokesman for USA Basketball, the organization remains optimistic Bryant will participate, and has not heard otherwise, despite the pending trial.

“We’re moving along under the assumption he’s planning to be a part of the team,” Miller said.

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Horace Grant, who has been told he has a tear in the labrum of his right hip, will visit a hip specialist in Boston on Friday.

Dr. Joseph McCarthy of New England Baptist Hospital will examine Grant. The Laker power forward has sat out eight of the last nine games.

Grant, 38, said Wednesday that if he has surgery, he could return in six to eight weeks, or perhaps by the second round.

“It’s a small tear,” Grant said. “It’s not like a hip replacement.”

In the corner of the locker room, Malone said, “Answer one thing, Ho. With all the West Coast athletes in California, you don’t think there’s some doctor out here that knows something about hips? You gotta go to Boston?”

Grant laughed.