Mike D’Antoni confirmed that Shaq will start tomorrow night against the Lakers:

“Are you gonna sit that guy on the bench?’ D’Antoni said with mock disbelief at the question. “Yeah, he’ll start.”

And so a new era in Suns history begins.

Not since Charles Barkley arrived from the Philadelphia 76ers before the 1992-93 season has an athlete’s debut been so anticipated in the Valley. And not since Barkley left have the expectations for an NBA championship been so high.

There are more than a few critics who wonder if O’Neal’s age and speed will be a detriment to a team that came within an eyelash — and two infamous suspensions — of earning its first title last season.

But judging by the crush of media on hand Tuesday and the public interest for everything Suns, Shaq fever has overtaken the Valley.

“The expectations here are very high, but I set my expectations high so I have the same expectations you guys have plus even more,” said O’Neal, before borrowing a line from an old Barkley commercial. “Anything less is uncivilized.”

O’Neal said he is in far better shape than he was during his first workout with the Suns last week when he called his conditioning “terrible.”

“Don’t seem to have any knick-knack injuries, don’t seem to have any pain,” he said. “I should be ready to go.”

No way he was going to miss starting against Kobe in his new home…