Shaquille O’Neal is ready for a new challenge out in The Desert. He’s also apparently prepared to add two more championship rings to his collection looking to match Jordan and Magic.

The four-time NBA champion and two-time Finals MVP even had a strong message for any doubters who didn’t like the Suns’ newest acquisition from the Heat for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks.

“I’m very upset,” the 35 year-old 14-time NBA All-Star said during an afternoon press conference where GM Steve Kerr and coach Mike D’Antoni introduced the newest Phoenix Sun. “You just don’t really want to get me upset. When I’m upset, I’m known to do certain things- like win championships.”

For those who pondered if the big man can still run and fit into the Suns’ run and gun system featuring point guard Steve Nash and Amare Stoudamire, a defiant Shaq seemed eager to get back on the court.

“The last couple of years I was in a system that we really didn’t run, so you automatically think I can’t run,” he pointed out of his former team who won their only NBA title a couple of years prior thanks in large part to his huge addition. “But I love to run, especially if I’m playing with a great guy like Steve Nash. I look forward to making people eat their words, I really do.”

In 32 games with the Heat this season, O’Neal is averaging a career low 14.2 points-per-game marred by injuries including a bad hip which shouldn’t keep him out much longer. The Big Aristotle had plenty of fun with reporters during the conference cracking jokes and even referring to himself as “the new assistant vice chair general manager” who felt his new team had all the pieces in place to win the franchise’s first NBA championship in its 40-year history.

“This team has always been there in the Western Conference,” he noted. “They just couldn’t quite get over the hump. I think with my experience and my on the court-off the court leadership, I can help them get over the hump.“

The Suns are banking on that veteran leadership to finally get them over the top in a very strong conference chalk full of contenders including defending champion San Antonio, Dallas, Shaq’s former three-time championship teammate Kobe Bryant’s Lakers along with rising teams New Orleans and Utah. It will be far from easy even with a motivated big man ready to “surprise a lot of people.”

During his brilliant 16-year NBA career, he’s averaged 25.6 PPG and 11.5 rebounds. Most importantly, he’ll provide that interior defensive presence the Nash Suns have lacked the past few years. They should be tougher around the basket with a shot blocking presence and be able to rebound the ball even better to get out on the break.

On a very happy day, Shaq even gave the media a free new slogan to run with:

“The Sun will rise in Phoenix.”

We’ll know in the coming months if that proclamation turns out to be true. Let the fun begin.