Even Sidelined, Shaq Can’t Be Contained

Shaquille O’Neal traveled here with the Lakers, more than two hours by bus Tuesday, for their exhibition opener. He said once again that he has no idea when he will play after undergoing toe surgery on Sept. 11. He said he hopes to begin light jogging next week.

Then (surprise!) he grew playful before the Lakers’ 101-99 loss to the Clippers before a sellout crowd of 10,097 at Centennial Garden.

“I’m going to kick your ... Yao Ming,” O’Neal whispered into a reporter’s tape recorder, referring to the Houston Rockets’ top draft pick. “Shaq-zilla is coming.”

Asked about the Sacramento Kings, he said, “I’m not worried about the Sacramento Queens. Write it down. Take a picture. I’m not going to talk about this all year. When I get back, there’s going to be trouble.”

Asked about reinforcement of the “Shaq rule,” which prohibits free-throw shooters from stepping over the line before the ball hits the rim, he said, “I cross the line to mess with you. The officials came to me before every game in the playoffs and warned me. I said, ‘Call it.’ It’s not going to bother me. They’ve already made up one ‘Shaq rule’ with that ... defense [the zone].

“Complaining won’t stop me. It will only make me angry. You don’t want me angry.”

Asked about Michael Olowokandi, his Clipper counterpart who suggested O’Neal grow up after the two nearly came to blows in a game last season, “Donald Sterling showed me he’s not in my league.”

The Clippers and Olowokandi failed to agree during the off-season on a long-term “max-out” deal worth about $100 million over the next seven seasons. Instead, Olowokandi took a one-season qualifying offer worth $6.1 million. He will be an unrestricted free agent next July 1.

“No,” O’Neal said when asked if he was still upset with Olowokandi after their confrontation last season, “I’m not mad.”

*

Laker Coach Phil Jackson took the NBA’s threat to crack down on O’Neal’s penchant for stepping over the free-throw line a bit more seriously than his oft-criticized center. Jackson said he has been told there are at least two other players, including Clipper point guard Andre Miller, who are every bit as guilty as O’Neal.

Jackson dismissed the NBA coaches who have concerned themselves with keeping O’Neal behind the line as “whiners and complainers.”

*

As promised, Jackson played almost everyone in uniform. O’Neal and Rick Fox, suffering from back spasms, did not dress. Clipper Coach Alvin Gentry played everyone in uniform too, but he had little choice since eight players on the training camp roster are injured.

The Lakers led by as many as 13 points, but the Clippers rallied behind free-agent forward Mike Batiste’s 13 second-half points. Batiste’s jump shot from the left baseline with 6.6 seconds left gave the Clippers the lead for good.

Corey Maggette led the Clippers with 23 points in 33 minutes. Andre Miller added 17 points in his Clipper debut. Kobe Bryant, Kareem Rush and Jannero Pargo had 13 apiece for the Lakers.

*

Clipper forward Melvin Ely aggravated the tendinitis in his right big toe after landing awkwardly after getting hacked by Laker forward Devean George midway through the first quarter. Ely had to be carried to the locker room.