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Topics: Sport, US News, Money, Basketball
Emily Brown
Former professional basketball player Shaquille O'Neal has revealed how much money it would take for him to coach the Los Angeles Lakers.
The team is currently on the hunt for a new coach as it announced last week it was parting ways with Frank Vogel after three seasons.
The news came as the Lakers were officially eliminated from playoff contention and closed the season with a 33-49 record, with general manager Rob Pelinka saying it was 'time for a new voice'.
You can see Shaq talk about it here:
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With the position now open, rapper and actor Percy Robert Miller Sr., better known as Master P, told TMZ on Sunday he would be interested in taking over as coach with Shaq as his assistant.
Shaq addressed the opening himself during an episode of the Big Podcast with Shaq this week, though he indicated he'd rather coach the team himself than be an assistant. He said he would be happy to take on the role – for the low low price of just $25 million (£19.4m) per year.
Not only that, but Shaq said he would need a four year contract for the job, meaning the position would earn him a whopping $100 million in total.
"If the Lakers offered me $25 million a year for four years, I would coach the Lakers. I'd need a four year contract, I'd coach them right now," he said.
Shaq joked the opportunity might come up if Master P didn't get the job, saying: "Let's just say they have a conversation with Master P and they don't pick him. Now I'm just going to go in as a side meeting and just say, 'hey, I know you didn't want to consider my good friend Master P, but if you want me this is the fee'."
The former basketball player is regarded as one of the best centers of all time, securing four NBA titles throughout his career as well as being a 15-time All-Star.
He has kept busy since retiring from basketball, appearing in movies, TV shows and adverts, so only time will tell whether he'd carve out the time to coach the Lakers – if the team would be willing to offer his fee, that is.
Manager Pelinka described the most recent Lakers season as 'disappointing... at every level', saying fans 'expect more' and that the change 'starts with the coaches holding players accountable and making sure there's on-court execution'. He also stressed he wasn't saying 'anything against the incredible accomplishments that Frank Vogel has had'.
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