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NBA·ANALYSIS·August 29, 2026 07:38 PM ET

Shaq trade fueled tension before ‘Mike and the Mad Dog’ split, Licata says

Francesa and Russo split on Phoenix's win-total outlook

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Aug 291 min read
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What happened: Russo viewed Shaquille O’Neal’s February 2008 arrival in Phoenix as a boost to the hosts’ shared over wager; Francesa believed it hurt their chances. Licata said other issues were also at play and stopped short of calling the disagreement decisive.

Why it matters: Russo left WFAN later that summer after 19 years with Francesa and launched a SiriusXM channel. The account adds a previously obscure NBA wrinkle to one of New York sports radio’s defining breakups.

By the numbers: Phoenix finished the 2007-08 season 55-27 and exited in the first round. O’Neal made the All-Star team during his first full Suns season in 2008-09.

What to watch: Any response from Francesa or Russo could clarify how heavily the dispute weighed on their split.

Sources

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