Shaq: 'If they offered me $25M a year for 4 years, I'd coach the Lakers' / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: AFP - Scanpix Credit AFP - Scanpix

As the Los Angeles Lakers look for a new head coach to replace Frank Vogel,four-time NBA ChampionShaquille O'Neal said he could be one of the candidates to coach the team.

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During the recent episode of the "Big Podcast with Shaq" the NBA legend and current basketball analystwas asked about the possibility of coaching the Lakers in a joking, unrealistic way. But the former player quickly got the joke and joined in saying he would take the head coach job with the Lakers, not an assistant job, if they met his $25 million per year requirement.

"If the Lakers offered me $25 million a year for four years, I would coach the Lakers," the legend assured. "If they give me a four-year contract, I'll coach them right now," he added.

All this came up as Rapper and actor Percy Robert Miller Sr., better known as Master P, told TMZon Sunday that he would like to coach the Lakers with Shaq as his assistant coach. Although Master P's experience with the NBA is limited as he did make the preseason roster for theCharlotte Hornetsin 1998, and then made theToronto Raptorsroster the next year. However, he never made it past preseason with either team.

Shaq has a good relationship with Master P, but he was straightforward saying he would not take the assistant coach role.

"Let's just say they have a conversation with Master P and they don't pick him," Shaq said. "Now I'm just going to go in as a side meeting and just say, 'hey I know you don't want to consider my good friend Master P, but if you want me this is the fee."

Even though the position that until very recently was occupied by Frank Vogel has been vacant, a possibility of Shaq coaching the team sounds unrealistic. In fact, nobody earns that figure in the NBA, which is more than double that of the highest paid coach at the moment, Gregg Popovich earns $11.5 million a year.

Shaquille O'Neal won 3 consecutive NBA championships and Finals MVP's during 2000-2002 span as a Lakers player.

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