Tim Brown of the Los Angeles Times reports:  Lakers center Shaquille O?Neal might miss a playoff game to witness the birth of his son.

Shaunie O'Neal, Shaquille's pregnant wife, is due on April 27, the same day as Game 4 of the Lakers? series against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Staples Center.

I'm not thinking about it until it happens," he said after the Lakers ended their regular season with a win against the Golden State Warriors. "But, I will be there for the birth of my son. I gotta be the first black man he sees."

It has been speculated that doctors would induce labor on a date when the Lakers aren?t playing but O?Neal said his wife was not ready for the procedure.

"I'm going to let it play out," he said. "She's not ready and I'm not going to force it. When the baby comes, I'm going to be there."