MIAMI, Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Veteran Miami Heat center Shaquille O'Neal will miss 4-6 weeks because of torn cartilage in his left knee.
The team made an announcement about his playing status Friday after he had missed two games earlier in the season with a bruised knee.
"If you stop and think about last year, and not having Shaquille at the beginning for (20) games or whatever it was, it changes everything you do," Coach Pat Riley told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "You start looking at things a lot different and how you play. Obviously you don't have the power post-up game."
The newspaper said surgery is required, but had not yet been scheduled.
The 34-year-old O'Neal -- a 13-time all-star and former NBA MVP -- was averaging 14 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists in just four games this season.
