Profiles: Steve Nash | Shaquille O'Neal

O'Neal reacts to controversy surrounding "Shaq Vs."

The most entertaining part of the new reality show, "Shaq Vs."? The credits.

Tuesday's debut, which featured Shaquille O'Neal taking on Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in football, was a tad long and a bit contrived. It became decidedly more interesting, though, when the credits rolled and this name popped up as one of the executive producers:

Steve Nash.

There's an interesting back story here, one that explains in part some of the fractured relationships that defined the Suns' struggles last season.

O'Neal stole Nash's idea.

Shortly after O'Neal was traded to the Suns in February 2008, Nash mentioned to his new teammate a reality show he was pursuing. It would feature the Suns point guard taking on professional athletes in their own sport.

The topic didn't come up again until early in the 2008-09 season, when O'Neal boarded the Suns bus and told the team he would be starring in a new reality show in which he would be taking on, you got it, professional athletes in their own sport.

"You mean the idea you stole from me?" one Suns representative said he heard Nash say.

Nash eventually sought out an entertainment lawyer, according to sources, which is why he now has an executive-producer credit and the compensation that comes with it.

When reached Wednesday, Nash would not confirm the story.

"We collaborated on parts of the show," he said. "I support him 100 percent. I thought the first episode was a fantastic episode, and I can't wait for the next one."

That's something you would expect Nash to say. He often has played the role of locker-room peacemaker. He is known as a teammate who diffuses tough situations before they escalate.

In reality, a source close to Nash said, "Steve was pissed. He couldn't believe Shaq's lack of integrity."

The experience set the tone for some shaky chemistry on the court. Off it, Nash found himself in a difficult situation, trying to co-exist with a teammate who had blindsided him.

"He's moved on," the source said. "He really does want the show to succeed."

Calls made to O'Neal's representatives were not returned.

Being a teammate of O'Neal's is a bit like falling into the rabbit hole.

Several years ago, when O'Neal played for Miami, he referred to Nash's back-to-back MVP awards as "tainted." He later back-pedaled.

The 2008-09 season was trying from the start. The team struggled under new coach Terry Porter's deliberate system. In December, the Suns traded one of Nash's best friends, Raja Bell, with Boris Diaw, to Charlotte for Jason Richardson and Jared Dudley.

During the All-Star break, they fired Porter and replaced him with assistant Alvin Gentry, who steered the Suns back to their up-tempo ways. Several days after Gentry took over, All-Star power forward Amar� Stoudemire underwent season-ending surgery to repair a detached retina.

The Suns were out of the playoffs for the first time in five years.

Here's a hunch that when the Suns decided to trade O'Neal to Cleveland in late June, it helped Nash arrive at his decision to sign an extension with the Suns a month later.

Here's a hunch that chemistry on this team will be better in the 2009-10 season, too.

Nash enjoys playing for Gentry and is happy his friend Grant Hill is back. He'll have his pick-and-roll mate, Stoudemire, and an offense that should be more fluid.

Nash might be 35, but let's not forget he recently became the first NBA player to shoot more than 50 percent from the floor, 90 percent from the line and 40 percent from 3-point range for three consecutive seasons.

How long "Shaq Vs." lasts remains to be seen. It landed a 2.7 rating locally, which means approximately 48,670 Phoenix homes tuned in to the ABC show. NBC's "America's Got Talent" received a 7.6 rating locally, and CBS's "Big Brother" took a 3.9 rating.

In future shows, O'Neal is scheduled to compete against swimmer Michael Phelps, boxer Oscar De La Hoya and tennis star Serena Williams.

O'Neal might have other battles in his future as well. Author Todd Gallagher says the show is a rip-off of his book, "Andy Roddick Beat Me with a Frying Pan," according to TMZ, and is pursuing legal action.

"Shaq Vs." is a reality show, but O'Neal's life more resembles a drama.

The Suns are better off without it.

Profiles: Steve Nash | Shaquille O'Neal

O'Neal reacts to controversy surrounding "Shaq Vs."

Reach Boivin at paola.boivin@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8956. Follow her on Twitter at Twitter.com/PaolaBoivin.