February 10th, 2008 
Stephen Rhodes 
Posted in ???????????????? 
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Rumors prior to the Shaquille O’Neal trade?were that he was physically broken down; even the Phoenix Suns’ physician, Dr. Thomas Carter, expected to find some major physical problems with O’Neal during the center’s physical this week.? For the Shaq naysayers, not so fast.? According to Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic, it was quite the opposite.
Dr. Carter told the Republic that the 7’1″ O’Neal weighed in at 321 lbs, carried 11% body fat and showed minimal arthritis for a man of his age and size.? Carter added, “There’s no reason he can’t get back to playing a high level from a structural standpoint.”? Carter also said that the hip injury that has sidelined O’Neal was as good as can be expected, given that the tightness was in his soft tissue.
O’Neal’s surgery history consists of only 2 procedures – one that removed spurs from his right toe and a left-knee arthroscopic procedure, which has led to only “slight arthritis”.? Carter further added, “It’s not as severe as many players of his age and stature would have.”? O’Neal will travel to Phoenix on Sunday (today) and have a workout; he will then practice on Monday and could possibly play no earlier than Thursday – a game against the Dallas Mavericks, the last game before the All-Star break.?
