Harris Reflects on Life in L.A.

By TIM KAWAKAMI

April 19, 2000 12 AM PT

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DALLAS — Del Harris, on board with the Dallas Mavericks as an assistant coach for the last month, got a hug from Shaquille O’Neal outside the Laker locker room before the game, but said he had no special feelings facing the Lakers for the first time since his firing in February 1999.

Even after the team went through further turmoil without him, and this season under Phil Jackson turned into the most dominant team in the league?

“I didn’t coach the team last year--I was with the team 19 days,” Harris said before the game. “So what happened last year, the people that they had, it really is not part of my memory bank.

“That was Kurt [Rambis]’s year and [Dennis] Rodman’s year and Jerry Buss’ year, you know? I don’t feel that I should be any part of that . . .

“But on the other hand, the best years I had were there. I think obviously we would’ve continued to win games.”

While crediting Jackson and his staff for what they have accomplished with this year’s Laker team, Harris emphasized that he never got to coach a fully-healthy Shaquille O’Neal and that Kobe Bryant only last summer turned 21.

“Not to take away anything from what the coaching staff has done there, but I think they did find out it’s a little harder to win a game Shaq doesn’t play [in the two games he missed recently],” Harris said.

“Now try that 53 times. . . . They didn’t like it when he missed two. And he missed 53 in my two full years.

“And Kobe was 18 and 19 years old . . . He’s just turned into a magnificent player.”

Harris said he never doubted that O’Neal could be, and would be, the most dominant player in the league if he remained healthy for a full season.

“I’ve always been a huge fan of Shaq,” Harris said. “I had done the best that I could to promote him as an MVP sort of a player, because I knew he was for us.

“And now is his time. Of course, you heard me years ago saying that Michael Jordan never won anything until he was 28. Lo and behold, Shaq’s 28. So it’s been nice to watch.”

TONIGHT

at San Antonio, Alamodome

Channel 9, TBS

* Records--Lakers 67-14; Spurs 52-29.

1999-2000 season series vs. Spurs--1-2.

* Update--On the final day of the regular season, San Antonio needs a victory over the Lakers to wrap up homecourt advantage against the Phoenix Suns in their No. 4-vs.-No. 5 first-round playoff matchup. Tim Duncan has missed the last three games because of cartilage damage in his knee, and is listed as questionable for this game.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Triple Plays / The Big 3

Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant and Glen Rice have been the driving force behind the Lakers’ success. How they fared:

O’NEAL

*--*

Tue. Season 38 Points 29.7 20 Rebounds 13.7 3 Assists 3.7

*--*

BRYANT

*--*

Tue. Season 16 Points 22.4 14 Rebounds 6.2 6 Assists 4.9

*--*

RICE