Pat Riley Lets J.O. Keep His Headband

Crisis averted; now, if only this could stop him from getting hammered on so much: “O’Neal, 30, was not allowed to wear a headband in his first four games with the Heat, in which he averaged 12.5 points and 4.5 rebounds and shot 51.2 percent from the field. O’Neal has been slightly better since he got his head — and headband — into the games. He averaged 14 points and 8.6 rebounds in three games with the headband. ‘After wearing a headband for 10 years, you feel it’s a part of you,’ O’Neal said. ‘It’s like coming out of the house with no underwear. You feel naked. I appreciate [Riley] for allowing me to wear it.'”