Vandalized Ball Has O’Neal Upset Again

The relationship between the Lakers and Sacramento Kings, muddied by three playoff series in three years and various short-range punches and long-distance wisecracks, has taken yet another turn.

The basketball with which Shaquille O’Neal scored his 20,000th point Thursday night was inscribed by someone at Arco Arena, “Shaq, your [sic] an ... ,” using a profanity, in black, ballpoint pen.

While disturbed by the act, O’Neal seemed willing to forgive King management, including owners Joe and Gavin Maloof.

“History was made last night,” O’Neal said. “You can’t take that away from me. I hope the Maloof family doesn’t condone this type of action. I will not hold the city of Sacramento responsible, but whoever did this shows no class. “But, am I mad? I’m not mad at all....

“I know the Maloofs allow a lot of stuff. If they do condone this I’ll be very disappointed in that organization. But this is something I won’t forget.”

O’Neal has forged a friendship with the Maloofs in recent years, if not with the fans of Sacramento. He has called the Kings “Queens” and recently asserted King point guard Mike Bibby was a poor choice for the U.S. Olympic team. Witnesses said that opinion apparently caused a brief postgame shouting match Thursday night between Bibby’s cousin and O’Neal near the Laker bus.

The flare-up was quickly quelled by security officials and did not involve physical contact, other than a security guard pushing away Bibby’s relative.

By Friday afternoon, the Kings were more concerned with the ball and how the vandalism might reflect on the organization.

King officials requested the basketball be returned so they could investigate. King spokesman Troy Hanson said that if no one stepped forward to accept the blame, the club would submit the sample for a handwriting analysis.

King General Manager Geoff Petrie and the Maloofs were livid, Hanson said, and determined to find the culprit. Members of the statistics crew will be questioned, Hanson said.