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Even a hospital stay can’t stop Shaquille O’Neal from supporting his TNT buddies.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
TNT’s Ernie Johnson confirmed<\/a> that O’Neal had hip surgery, which will keep him off the set of “Inside The NBA” indefinitely.\u00a0<\/p>\n TNT’s NBA coverage has slowed down this week due to the NCAA Tournament.<\/p>\n O’Neal suggested<\/a> on “The Big Podcast With Shaq”<\/a> that he was targeting the beginning of the NBA playoffs for his return. He is likely prohibited from racing Kenny Smith to the video board for a while.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Especially if there’s a Christmas tree involved.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n O’Neal has been trying to get healthier since being diagnosed with sleep apnea.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n He dropped 40 pounds<\/a> late last year, and told<\/a> “Entertanment Tonight” that he’s planning to stop eating bread. \u201cI think I could get the Marky Wahlberg look,” O’Neal said. “I want to be known as the Black Mark Wahlberg.\u201d<\/p>\n Now the extra mobility should help him continue to improve his retirement body. And it might held him continue to dodge process servers<\/a>.<\/p>\n The only thing O’Neal might regret? Not being there when Charles Barkley admitted to showering with his jersey on to wash it.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n