Spurs coach Gregg Popovich appeared to play a joke on Suns center Shaquille O'Neal just a few seconds into a game between Phoenix and San Antonio on Wednesday night.
Just five seconds into the game, Michael Finley intentionally fouled O'Neal.
After some confusion on behalf of O'Neal and the Suns, ESPN's camera focused on a grinning Popovich, who stuck up both his thumbs in O'Neal's direction.
Shaquille shared a laugh with Popovich before the game was resumed and the intensity of the rivalry between the two teams returned.
O'Neal famously criticized Popovich and the Spurs for employing the "Hack-A-Shaq" strategy in the first round of last year's playoffs.
Via Andrew Perna/RealGM
San Antonio Spurs, Phoenix Suns
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Suns' center Shaquille O'Neal still believes that he is the NBA's best big man.
"Because I've done the most," O'Neal said. "I'm not worried about guys winning dunk contests and doing stuff like that. You still have to outdo the shogun to become the shogun. When I leave, it'll be because my time is up, not because someone is outplaying me or someone has done more than me. The only one who has even done close, and I don't really consider him a center, is Mr. (Tim) Duncan. Any other center, the things that they have done, I invented."
O'Neal is entering his seventeenth season in the league.
"I just try to pace myself every 20 games," O'Neal, 36, said. "When I was younger, I had a different mentality, so I really haven't mastered the mentality of being an old guy yet."
Via Arizona Republic
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Amare Stoudemire scored 17 points before leaving the Suns' preseason win against the undermanned Oklahoma City Thunder in the third quarter with a dislocated left pinky, the Associated Press is reporting.
Via USA Today
Phoenix Suns, Oklahoma City Thunder
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Suns Oct 2008 Archive
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East Valley Tribune | Oct 24, 2008
The Phoenix Suns have exercised their team option on Alando Tucker for the 2009-2010 season.
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Sacramento Bee | Oct 22, 2008
Shaquille O'Neal and Grant Hill are reportedly serious about buying the Orlando Magic when their playing careers are over in a couple of years.
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Arizona Republic | Oct 20, 2008
Steve Nash is doubtful for Monday's game after spraining his ankle for the second time in five days.
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East Valley Tribune | Oct 17, 2008
Steve Nash and Shaquille O'Neal will not play on Friday night for the Suns when the team battles the Nuggets.
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ESPN | Oct 16, 2008
Steve Nash turned his right ankle late in the first half of the Suns' game against Atlanta on Wednesday night and did not return.
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Arizona Republic | Oct 15, 2008
Suns' Coach Terry Porter could test the idea of starting Matt Barnes at small forward instead of Grant Hill.
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East Valley Tribune | Oct 13, 2008
The Phoenix Suns have waived Trey Johnson, reducing their roster to 14.
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East Valley Tribune | Oct 13, 2008
Less than an hour after completing a 13 hour flight from Brazil to Phoenix, guard Leandro Barbosa was back on the court practicing with his teammates.
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Arizona Republic | Oct 12, 2008
Suns' co-owner Dick Heckmann thought that the idea of playing an NBA game outside was a bad one but soon had second thoughts.
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Globe And Mail | Oct 11, 2008
Steve Nash says that he'd love to finish his career in Phoenix, but if not he'd be very happy to play in Toronto.
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USA Today | Oct 10, 2008
Phoenix and Denver are set to do battle on Saturday night in an outdoors game for only the second time in NBA history.
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Arizona Republic | Oct 9, 2008
Steve Nash appeared comfortable running the Suns' halfcourt offensive sets.
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Los Angeles Daily News | Oct 9, 2008
Shaquille O'Neal said he called Kobe Bryant shortly after video of his rap in which he disses his former teammate hit the internet and apologized.
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Suns.com | Oct 9, 2008
The Phoenix Suns waived forward Coleman Collins following Wednesday night’s preseason opener versus the Atlanta Hawks at US Airways Center.
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Arizona Republic | Oct 8, 2008
Amare Stoudemire said he could miss at least half of the Suns' preseason games as he tries to get into shape after an eye injury.
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ESPN | Oct 7, 2008
The Mavericks have hired Paul Westphal as their executive vice president of basketball operations.
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suns.com | Oct 7, 2008
NBA TV will televise practice for the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday at 11 a.m, giving fans the opportunity to see what happens behind the scenes.
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East Valley Tribune | Oct 6, 2008
Suns guard Steve Nash doesn't plan on retiring anytime soon despite being a few months shy of his 35th birthday.
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East Valley Tribune | Oct 4, 2008
Suns' forward Amare Stoudemire will miss two weeks of action after injuring his right eye in practice.
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East Valley Tribune | Oct 3, 2008
Amare Stoudemire was poked in the eye during training camp and will be out of action until Friday at the earliest with a partially torn iris.
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Arizona Daily Star | Oct 3, 2008
Shaquille O'Neal appears to be holding to his decision on retiring in two seasons, which means that the NBA will be able to prepare a proper sendoff.
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East Valley Tribune | Oct 1, 2008
Suns' guard Leandro Barbosa was forced to leave training camp and return to Brazil to care for his critically ill mother.
