Former Phoenix Suns player Shaquille O’Neal appeared as a special guest at the Straight Game Podcast’s Live Event in Chandler, AZ on Saturday evening. The episode took place in the Showroom at the Wild Horse Pass, an auditorium with 1,200 seats at Gila River Resorts & Casinos– Wild Horse Pass. Mike Bibby, Eddie House and Ty Ellis, who host the podcast, also hosted the event.
Former Sun Appears at Straight Game Podcast Live Event
Many Suns fans appeared, commending the atmosphere at Gila River Resorts & Casinos and the idea for the event. They also had a chance to take pictures with the hosts and receive autographs from them.
Straight Game Podcast started roughly a year ago, and releases episodes weekly. Along with discussing current events around the NBA, the hosts invite guests who have experience playing and coaching in the league. Their most recent episode, released July 30, featured DeMarcus Cousins as a guest.
Additionally, all three hosts have experience in the NBA. Bibby spent 14 years in the league, and retired averaging 14.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game. After a six-year break, he returned to coaching this year, and will lead Sacramento State into its upcoming season. House had an 11-year career, and was a league champion with the Boston Celtics in 2008. Ellis also played for 11 years, before coaching across the G-League, NBA and NCAA. He is currently in his first season as an assistant coach for the Las Vegas Aces.
Multiple Arizona Connections On Stage
O’Neal, the star of the night, joined the Suns in February 2008 on a trade that saw Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks go to the Miami Heat. He averaged a double-double per game after the move, before improving his offensive product in the 2008-09 season. The four-time NBA champion averaged 17.8 points and 8.4 rebounds per game that campaign, which ended in selections to the NBA All-Star Game and the All-NBA Third Team.
The Suns also had Steve Nash and Amar’e Stoudemire during that time. While finishing above .500 in both seasons with O’Neal, they fell in the First Round of the 2008 playoffs to the San Antonio Spurs in five games before narrowly missing postseason play the year after.
Saturday evening’s hosts also have connections to The Grand Canyon State. Bibby graduated from Shadow Mountain High School in Phoenix, where he was named a McDonald’s All-American in 1996. He then played two seasons at Arizona, which included winning the 1997 NCAA championship. After retiring, he returned to his high school alma mater to coach. First as an assistant during the 2013-14 season, before being the head coach for five years.
House played four seasons at Arizona State, and was named Pac-10 Player of the Year in 2000. His No. 5 jersey is retired by the Sun Devils. He also played for the Suns during the 2005-06 season, going to the Western Conference Finals before losing to the Dallas Mavericks in six games.
Ellis was the head coach for Northern Arizona during its 2016-17 campaign before heading down Interstate 17 to become an assistant for the Suns. His Aces faced the Phoenix Mercury the night before the Straight Game Podcast live event, winning 86-83 at PHX Arena.
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