Shaq anxious to watch LeBron's return to Cleveland

By Zac Jackson
FOX Sports Ohio
November 30, 2010

CLEVELAND – If there’s anybody in the NBA who understands what Thursday night’s less than sweet homecoming for LeBron James might really be like, it’s Shaquille O’Neal.

Tuesday morning, the well-traveled Big Aristotle spoke from experience.

“My situation in Orlando was like a 6 (on a scale of 1-10),” O’Neal said. “When I went back to L.A., it was a 7. For LeBron here, this is like a 12.”

Yes, everything’s bigger in Shaq’s world. But the Thursday night Cavaliers-Heat matchup, James’ first game in Cleveland as Public Enemy No. 1, is so big that Celtics head coach Doc Rivers was willing to talk about it, too, even with his team preparing for a big game here Tuesday night.

“I don’t watch many games on TV,” Rivers said. “But Thursday night I’m going to watch the beginning. I think that will be the most interesting part.”

James, the two-time reigning MVP and native of nearby Akron, basically went into hiding in the weeks following the Cavaliers' second-round playoff series loss to the Celtics last May. He became a free agent on July 1, hosted interested suitors in Cleveland but made no public comments over several days, then held his own television special on July 8 to announce he was headed to Miami to join the Heat.

Thursday night brings the city of Cleveland’s first up-close chance to let James know how it feels.

O’Neal called himself “a silly fan,” saying he wasn’t worried about watching the whole Cavs-Heat game.

“But I’m anxious to see if he does the powder (stuff),” O’Neal said, referencing James’ pregame routine of tossing talcum powder into the air at the scorer’s table and striking a pose.

James told reporters in Miami Tuesday that he "probably will" go ahead with the powder toss. "That's a ritual for myself," James said.

Extra security measures will be in place, some that have already been announced and some that will be kept secret. Presumably, security will be prepared for fan reaction during the powder toss, which used to fire up the Cleveland crowd but now might do so in a less than favorable manner.

“We’ve got bets that (LeBron) won’t do it,” O’Neal said.

“I get (all the hype and excitement). It’s tough both ways,” Rivers said. “He made his decision. NBA rules state that you can become a free agent and go wherever you want to go. But he’s from here, and over everything else that made it more difficult because he grew up here and left.

“People try to blame it on ‘The Decision,’ but people were going to have hard feelings because he left. I get that. I do wish that people would remember what it was like (for the Cavs) the year before he came. He did bring a lot of good things here, a lot of great games and great moments. Those were because of him.”

James certainly pushed the Cavaliers to new heights. But a rabid and championship-starved fan base feels like the way James handled his departure was unnecessarily cruel, and the eyes of the NBA will be on Quicken Loans Arena Thursday night.

“I definitely understand,” Rivers said. “This is a first. I hope it goes well.”

O’Neal said James’ return was “all anybody wanted to talk about” Monday night as he ventured around Cleveland, where he played last season.

“LeBron’s a tough kid,” O’Neal said. “I think he’ll play well.

“Times are different. This situation is a little different than mine was (in Orlando). I’m anxious to see it.”