O’Neal practices with Suns for first time

He showed no sign of his hip injury, but his return date to play has not been determined.

PHOENIX (AP) — Shaquille O’Neal practiced with the Phoenix Suns for the first time Monday, showing no sign of the hip injury that has sidelined him since Jan. 21.

“It was different. It was very intense,” he said after the one-hour workout. “I learned a lot. Now I can see why they can go at the pace they play at. When you just do short bursts like this, then you can save it all for the game.”

Just when he will play in a game remained undecided.

“I haven’t done anything in a month, but I’m in pretty good shape,” O’Neal said. “It will probably take me a few more days to get in tune. The good thing about these guys here is they told me when I’m comfortable, when I’m one-thousand percent, then I can join them.”

Phoenix has two games before the All-Star break — at Golden State on Wednesday night and at home against Dallas on Thursday. The first game after the break is at home against Shaq’s old team, the Los Angeles Lakers, his former coach Phil Jackson and his old teammate Kobe Bryant.

“I think it’s going to take a little bit,” coach Mike D’Antoni said. “It’s going to be an adjustment for our guys and for him. It’s hard to think and play basketball at the same time. Right now, he’s got to think where he’s going to go and all that. But it’s going to be good chemistry and it’s going to change things up, hopefully for the better.”

D’Antoni said the Suns will “not rush him back for any reason.” The coach said he will meet with O’Neal and trainer Aaron Nelson after Tuesday’s practice to map out plans.

Phoenix is 2-1 since the trade last Wednesday that brought O’Neal from the Miami Heat for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks. The Suns have the conference’s best record at 36-15 but only 5 1/2 games separate the top nine teams in the West.

O’Neal injured his hip diving for a loose ball against Utah on Dec. 22. He returned Jan. 16 but was sidelined again five days later. An MRI showed inflammation in the left hip, shutting him down from all basketball activity.

In going ahead with the trade, the Suns were confident their staff would be able to get O’Neal in playing condition.

“The hip’s feeling pretty good, better than it’s felt in a while,” O’Neal said. “I’m used to just getting injections and going back out there. They told me they have their style, and they want me to stick with it.”