Shaq Takes On a Vocal Role

While the Orlando Magic wished that Shaquille O’Neal would have been more of a team leader instead of a low-key superstar, the Lakers have been pleasantly surprised in what they’ve seen in that department.

“He’s a better leader than what I was led to believe,” Coach Del Harris said. “Before, it was, ‘He just lays back.’ That may be the way it has been, but he definitely has leadership qualities.”

That Harris has noticed is not by chance--O’Neal has tried to be more outspoken in the locker room since coming to the Lakers.

“Usually, I was a lead-by-example type of guy,” he said. “Now, I’m doing both. We agreed that if we get on each other here, nobody will take it personally.”