O’Neal to Have Surgery to Correct Toe Problem
Shaquille O’Neal will have surgery next week to correct a minor problem with the small toe on his left foot.
The Lakers, however, expect O’Neal to be ready for the start of the regular season.
The surgery is scheduled for Wednesday and will be performed by team physicians Steve Lombardo and Phil Kwong.
O’Neal is not expected to be 100% by the start of training camp, which will open in Hawaii in October, and could possibly miss the Japan Games, in which the Lakers are scheduled to play Golden State in two preseason games at the Tokyo Dome.
O’Neal, who will perform as a rapper in tonight’s sellout concert at the Arrowhead Pond, played most of last season in pain due to a claw toe deformity.
He will become the fourth Laker to undergo surgery during the off-season, after point guard Derek Fisher (foot), backup power forward Mark Madsen (shoulder) and recent free-agent signee Mitch Richmond, who had minor work done on his left knee.
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