Examination Time for Shaq, a Lot of Air Time for Jones

Shaquille O’Neal will be re-evaluated today after spending the weekend in Los Angeles to receive treatment and rest his sprained knee ligament, an injury that not only kept him out of the All-Star game but cost him the chance to take part in festivities that saluted those named to the NBA’s 50th anniversary team.

The Lakers return to practice tonight, but don’t play again until Wednesday at Minneapolis, so today may still be too early to determine his availability. The injury has already cost him two games, not counting the All-Star contest.

Another concern, although less pressing, emerges because Eddie Jones did stay healthy to play in the All-Star game. That meant a long flight Thursday, a game Sunday, an early wake-up call today to return to Los Angeles, via Atlanta, to get some rest, practice tonight, then a flight back to Minneapolis on Tuesday. Then, a back-to-back against the Timberwolves and Nuggets.

“I’m a little concerned,� Jones said. “Just getting up at 5 a.m. [Monday] to catch a plane and then flying all day. Then I have to be at practice at 6.�

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General Manager Mitch Kupchak is on the Nuggets’ short list to become head of basketball operations, a job expected to open up if Bernie Bickerstaff, as expected, becomes coach of the Washington Bullets. That move could come as soon as today. Kupchak, long a candidate for most any job of that type that opens, declined comment, but in the past he has at least listened to opportunities.

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Travis Knight, asked what he got out of playing in Saturday’s rookie All-Star game:

“$3,000.�

But seriously.

“Six months ago, I was just hoping to be in the NBA,� he said. “So I guess I’ve come a long way.�