Jermaine O'Neal played like he was at home. He looked like it after the game, too.
The former Indiana Pacers center now playing for Miami gave his game shoes to a young fan in the stands after the Heat's 96-83 victory Friday night.
He walked over to the Pacers' postgame television broadcast and gave former teammate Austin Croshere, now doing color commentary, a kiss on the cheek. O'Neal high-fived and hugged some of the Conseco Fieldhouse security guards.
"It's good to be back home in Indiana," O'Neal said. "One thing that people haven't heard from me is that this will always be my family here, and this will always be my home.
"I appreciate the support I've had over the eight years. You guys and this community made me and gave me an opportunity to do some things in my life that I couldn't have dreamed that I would be able to do."
O'Neal's career blossomed with the Pacers.
Following four years of little playing time with the Portland Trail Blazers after being drafted out of high school, the Pacers acquired O'Neal prior to the 2000-01 season and he became an All-Star during his eight years here.
When injuries slowed him, he was traded to the Toronto Raptors prior to the 2008-09 season, then moved midyear to Miami. O'Neal said he still considers Indiana and Portland his homes.
"But especially Indianapolis because Indiana gave me the opportunity to do so many great things," he said. "I consider people here my family no matter what, no matter the people who don't like me for whatever reason.
"I wasn't a negative guy. All I did is, I played and I played hurt and I got hurt more by playing hurt. I still love this city. It's difficult to come back and play, but I have a new family, too, in Miami."
O'Neal had 22 points and 12 rebounds against the Pacers, becoming the first Heat player to open the season with consecutive 20-10 games. He also had 22 and 12 in the Heat's season opener, a 115-93 victory over the New York Knicks.
"You look athletic, man," Croshere told O'Neal after the game.
"I worked hard as hell," O'Neal said.
In the offseason, O'Neal went through a seven-week program with the Heat and another seven weeks with noted trainer Tim Grover in Chicago to regain his movement after knee injuries slowed him most of the past three seasons.
"This is the best Jermaine has played in at least three years," Heat guard Dwyane Wade said.
O'Neal averaged just 13 points per game in 2008-09 with Toronto and Miami and 13.6 in 42 games in his final season with the Pacers in 2007-08. Prior to that, he had six seasons of averaging at least 19 points.
"If it was going to happen in my career to come back, this was the summer to come back," O'Neal said.
On Friday, he made easy work of Pacers centers Roy Hibbert and Solomon Jones. Veteran Jeff Foster missed most of the game with a sprained right ankle.
"Our young guys got a lesson inside," Pacers coach Jim O'Brien said. "Solomon and Roy really got schooled by Jermaine."
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