“Got traded the next day”: Shaquille O’Neal reveals Pat Riley’s brutal decision-making after run in with the “Godfather” 

Shaquille O’Neal recounted an incident with Miami Heat president Pat Riley that led to his trade to the Phoenix Suns. Speaking on the “Straight Game” podcast, O’Neal said that an altercation in practice with then-coach of the Heat, Riley, spelled the end of his tenure in Miami.

O’Neal recalled that Riley asked Jason Williams to get out of practice one time after he showed up “half a second” late. Shaq stood up for his teammate, which led to Riley asking him to leave instead.

“He told J Dub [Jason Williams] to get out. I said, ‘Na, he’s not getting out.’ he said, ‘Well, you get out.’ I said, ‘Motherf*****, put me out.’ So we got into a little scuffle and the next day I was traded,” O’Neal said on Friday.

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