LOS ANGELES, California, May 18 (AFP) - Superstar centre Shaquille O'Neal did not attend the end of the season meetings with Los Angeles Lakers coaching staff, the Los Angeles Times reported on Sunday.
"I am upset," said Lakers coach Phil Jackson. "He's not the only one who didn't show up but it is disrespectful to us as a staff.
"It is important as a team. It's important for closure. And it is adult responsibility."
The Lakers string of National Basketball Championships ended at three straight on Thursday when they were beaten 4-2 in the best-of-seven Western Conference semi-finals by the San Antonio Spurs.
It was a troubling season for O'Neal who missed the beginning of the year after delaying surgery on his toe. He was also forced to apologize after making disparaging remarks toward Chinese centre Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets.
Lakers foward Kobe Bryant said O'Neal told him after the season that he was heading to his off-season home in Orlando, Florida.
"With the circumstances (O'Neal) couldn't really come in in the shape he wanted. Shaquille's going to be fine," said Bryant.
Jackson told the newspaper that O'Neal needs to work out more and change his lifestyle.
"When he was 25 he could stay up all night, come play a game and still get 25 points and 10 or 15 rebounds and five blocks. It just doesn't happen anymore," said Jackson.
"Our team needs the infusion of his energy back at full force, full throttle, similar to what he had the first year I came here."
Jackson, who underwent angioplasty surgery last week, said he is going to start fitness classes and take O'Neal along with him.
"When I get my trainer I am going to take Shaq to my trainer and together we are going to attend training classes to physically get there," he said.
Asked if he had talked to O'Neal about the plan, Jackson said would do it soon.
"I am as serious as rain," he shot back.
"I am upset," said Lakers coach Phil Jackson. "He's not the only one who didn't show up but it is disrespectful to us as a staff.
"It is important as a team. It's important for closure. And it is adult responsibility."
The Lakers string of National Basketball Championships ended at three straight on Thursday when they were beaten 4-2 in the best-of-seven Western Conference semi-finals by the San Antonio Spurs.
It was a troubling season for O'Neal who missed the beginning of the year after delaying surgery on his toe. He was also forced to apologize after making disparaging remarks toward Chinese centre Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets.
Lakers foward Kobe Bryant said O'Neal told him after the season that he was heading to his off-season home in Orlando, Florida.
"With the circumstances (O'Neal) couldn't really come in in the shape he wanted. Shaquille's going to be fine," said Bryant.
Jackson told the newspaper that O'Neal needs to work out more and change his lifestyle.
"When he was 25 he could stay up all night, come play a game and still get 25 points and 10 or 15 rebounds and five blocks. It just doesn't happen anymore," said Jackson.
"Our team needs the infusion of his energy back at full force, full throttle, similar to what he had the first year I came here."
Jackson, who underwent angioplasty surgery last week, said he is going to start fitness classes and take O'Neal along with him.
"When I get my trainer I am going to take Shaq to my trainer and together we are going to attend training classes to physically get there," he said.
Asked if he had talked to O'Neal about the plan, Jackson said would do it soon.
"I am as serious as rain," he shot back.
