Asked by sports talk radio host Sid Rosenberg if Shaquille O'Neal's pending divorce would affect his playing ability, Pat Riley said his concern was for Shaq's emotional welfare.

''I'm going to reach out to him today and find out how he's doing,'' Riley said on 790-AM The Ticket. ``And I hope everything works out. But, obviously, it's not the kind of news that you want to hear about one of your friends and also one of your players.''

Riley said he was ''devastated'' and ''saddened'' when he heard about the breakup. He went on to say he was unaware the couple were having relationship-ending problems.

''I'm really sort of devastated by the news from the standpoint I truly love Shaunie,'' Riley said. ``I think she's a great, great, great girl.''