The Official Site of Jermaine O'Neal

Wed, Apr 15th 2009, 10:23

Q and A with Jermaine

Q: Are you paying attention to the things people are saying about how much you have left and what you can and can’t do any more?

JO: No. You take any player and you give ‘em a knee injury … ask Kevin Garnett right now how he feels. You take any player’s livelihood, which is his knee, and put any injury to it … it’s going to be a process. And it’s been one hell of a process for me.

But I’ve finally gotten to the point where I feel like I’m over the hump with the knee situation. I think for people to really understand what I’ve been through, playing hurt [for Indiana], coming back and forth and knowing that our team’s in a tough situation for so many different reasons as far as on-the-court and off-the-court stuff, and you’re trying to be a bright spot for the team and you’re sacrificing your health almost to the detriment of your career … it was a very difficult situation to be in.

I tore my meniscus twice [in Indiana] before I had surgery. So it was difficult. But I don’t care what people say about whatever. I know what I can do and that’s really what it is. You’ve got to get back totally healthy and go from there.

I’ve had long talks with Coach Riley. He’s seen a lot of [big men] and he has so much belief in what I can do. And that means a lot, too.

Q: Are you satisfied with your level of play right now?

JO: I think making the All-Star team five times, All-NBA, stuff like that … it’s good but it’s not quite enough. It’s important to really make one last run in the next three to four years, because that’s all I want to play. I’ve done very, very well business-wise. The game of basketball has been very, very good to me. But I’m looking to making a major, major push to really get back to that level.

If you ask me if I’m going to be an All-Star again in the next three or four years, I can guarantee you I will.

Q: Do you think you still have as much in the tank physically as you did back in Indiana?

A: Obviously there’s a lot of players that can’t do what they could they could do six, seven years ago. There’s very few in this league outside of Kobe [whose games don’t drop off]. … Big guys normally slow down from the wear and tear.

It’s hard on you, but I’m in a great, great place mentally. I’m doing the world’s best job. I’ve got a great family. My wife and kids are very, very supportive. And that all makes it easier to really kind of take your time and get back to what you can do.

The last two summers have been rehab years. Almost the last three summers. This will be the first summer where it’s all about basketball. It’s all about getting better. No [waiting] period. No ‘don’t touch the court until July.’ None of that. I had to get over the hump physically, but more than anything, mentally I’m over the hump.