The associated press reports that Shaquille O'Neal's wife delivered Shaquir Rashaun O'Neal Saturday at about 1:52 am.

O'Neal was excused from the Lakers practice on Saturday and will fly in to Minnesota Saturday night and join the team in time for their game on Sunday.

"We're really happy for the delivery of a child and the fact that everything's safe and sound and we can go forward from there,'' coach Phil Jackson said. "Hopefully he can get to Minneapolis, get some rest and be ready to play the first game. That's a pivotal game for every team.''

Kobe Bryant, who played very well after his daughter was born this past season, expects that O'Neal will follow suit.

"You just roll off the adrenaline,'' said Bryant, who also scored 48 points in a 2001 playoff game at Sacramento after leaving the team to attend to a personal matter.

There is still a chance O'Neal could miss a playoff game due to the passing of his grandfather. The funeral is expected sometime next week. The Lakers are hopeful the funeral will be held Wednesday or Friday. The Lakers will play Tuesday and Thursday.

No matter what happens, though, the Lakers contend there are no distractions for the team.

"If it was a distraction, it's a distraction that we don't care too much about because his family is obviously more important than the game,'' Bryant said. "We're more than happy to deal with it and do whatever it takes to help him and his family get to a place to have some sort of peace.''