INQUIRER Sports

OHIO— Shaquille O’Neal and his oversized persona debuted in Cleveland on Thursday with a stated goal for next season. His friend LeBron “King” James craves a championship, and O’Neal is here to serve.

“My motto is very simple,” O’Neal said. “‘Win a ring for the King.”’

The 15-time All-Star center with four NBA titles was bedecked in a black suit, pink shirt and pink tie for an introductory news conference that might as well have been billed The Shaq Show.

Acquired last week in a blockbuster trade with the Phoenix Suns, O’Neal was welcomed by a team that believes he can bring this title-thirsty region its first US pro sports crown in 45 years.

O’Neal has no concerns about cold Ohio’s climate. His only focus is on warming James with a title.

“It’s LeBron’s team,” he said. “He’s the captain. This is the time in my career where I can fit in. I’m now in the security business. My job is to protect the King, and that’s what I’m here to do.”

The 7-foot-1, 325-pounder (2.16-meter, 147-kilogram) center already has four rings, winning three straight titles with Kobe Bryant and the Lakers and one in Miami with Dwyane Wade.

“They say things happen in three,” he said. “I won with the great Kobe, the great D-Wade and now it’s my job to win one with the great LeBron James.”

But the Los Angeles lakers may give O’Neal a hard time if they meet in the championship, especially after acquiring defensive specialist Ron Artest.

Artest verbally agreed to join Bryant and the NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday.

David Bauman, Artest’s agent, told The Associated Press the final details are still being worked out.

Artest could not immediately be reached for comment.