Golden State Warriors: Jermaine O’Neal’s Importance

After 18 years in the NBA, Jermaine O’Neal is considering retirement. Normally, an 18-year veteran retiring wouldn’t be a bad thing. But for the injury-prone Golden State Warriors, having every available hand on deck could be key to their hopeful 2014-15 season.

As the backup center of the Warriors, O’Neal is coming off his lone season with the Dubs in which he averaged 7.9 points and 5.5 rebounds in 20.1 minutes per game. Though he only played in 44 games, he fulfilled his role and when he was healthy, stepped in for the injured Festus Ezeli. Ezeli and starting center Andrew Bogut are both going to be healthy heading into a new NBA season, so what’s the problem with letting O’Neal ride off into the sunset?

Well, for one thing, there’s the fact that O’Neal, Bogut and Ezeli played a combined 111 games last season. For another, there’s the problem that Bogut wasn’t healthy during the most important time of the year and missed the playoffs, which resulted in a first-round loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. And finally, there’s the issue of Ezeli not playing a single NBA game since the 2012-13 season.

In the past three seasons, Bogut has played a grand total of 111 games while averaging a pedestrian 27.1 minutes per game. He hasn’t reached the 70-game threshold since the 2007-08 season and in his nine-year career, he’s played in a total of 507 regular season games out of a possible 722. The question with Bogut isn’t if he’ll get hurt, but when.

As for Ezeli, there’s less injury history to condemn him, but his problems staying healthy aren’t negligible either. After missing the entire 2013-14 season with a knee injury, Ezeli was expected to start (technically) his second season by playing in the NBA Summer League. But he suffered another setback in his recovery process when right shin inflammation sidelined him for all of Las Vegas Summer League play this offseason.

Ezeli only played 14.4 minutes per game his rookie season, averaging a less than stellar 2.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per game. His potential as a rim protector is certainly there, but none of it matters if he can’t stay healthy after missing the entire 2013-14 season. There’s also the issue of throwing Ezeli into the fire into his second season on a team that’s in win-now mode.

The point is, Golden State’s starting and backup centers are healthy now, but that health isn’t guaranteed over the course of a full 82-game season. History would indicate the Dubs are going to need all the help they can get with a veteran rim protector who can anchor one of the league’s best defenses. O’Neal’s 102 defensive rating last season trailed only Bogut and Draymond Green among players who logged at least 20 minutes per game.

Whenever you’re talking about injury-prone players, it’s always best to take the optimistic road as a fan. We all hope for the best for guys like Grant Hill, Derrick Rose, Andrew Bogut, Penny Hardaway, Eric Bledsoe, Brook Lopez and Al Horford because their undeniable talent makes it hard for us to close the door on their careers prematurely. Nobody wants to be a Debbie Downer.

But as a general manager of an NBA team, the prudent thing is to prepare for the worst. Nobody is condemning Bogut or Ezeli to another injury-ravaged season, but if Jermaine O’Neal truly hasn’t shut the door on returning to the Dubs next season, Golden State would be wise to do whatever they can to convince this soon-to-be 36-year-old to stave off Father Time and Uncle Retirement for another season. Provided he’s willing and able, of course.

After all, with three injury-prone centers, there’s a good chance at least one will be healthy for the postseason this time around.