Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille will not be playing in the 2002 NBA All-Star game to be held in Philadelphia this weekend, making way for fellow Californian Elton Brand of the Los Angeles Clippers to make his All-Star debut.

O'Neal, who missed the Lakers home loss last night to the Chicago Bulls, states that he is still bothered by a sore toe and hopes to rest during the next eight days at least before facing Michael Jordan and the Wizards at the Staples Center on Tuesday night.

Brand, the Clippers first All Star since Danny Manning in 1994, is considered to be unlucky to miss out on the game during his first two seasons after averaging at least 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Chicago Bulls each year.  He was traded on draft night for the rights to high schooler Tyson Chandler, the second overall pick in the 2002 draft.