Shaquille O’Neal Says His Feuds Are for Selling Tickets

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Sep 19, 2010

Shaquille O’Neal has always been a little bit of a troublemaker, but he claims that he knows exactly what he-s doing — creating hype.

Shaq told the Orlando Sentinel on Saturday that his feuds with the likes of Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, Stan Van Gundy and recently Mo Williams have been nothing but “marketing.”

“I know what I’m doing when it comes to selling out games,” he said.

In fact, he and Howard have a good relationship.

“He’s cool,” Shaq said. “He’s a great young player, but on the court it’s not about making friends, it’s about doing what you’re supposed to do to win that game to win a championship. But off the court, he’s a great guy, I had him on [ ABC’s  Shaq Vs.] this summer. But like I said, throughout my whole career, I know what I have to say and what I have to do to get the game popping.”

As for Boston’s new rivals, the Miami Heat, O’Neal has mixed expectations.

“Everybody is always excited about youth, but in the last 11 years, I don’t see a youthful team winning the championship,” O’Neal remarked. “But they got a great backcourt in LeBron and D-Wade, probably one of the most talented, historical backcourts ever.”

NESN.com will showcase one Moment of Shaq every day until the Celtics open the season against the Heat on Oct. 26 at the TD Garden.

Sept. 18: Shaq races Junior.

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