Shaquille O’Neal had a remarkable NBA career, where he achieved numerous accomplishments.
The Orlando Magic selected O’Neal as the top overall pick in the NBA Draft of 1992.
During his time in Orlando, Shaquille O’Neal had a remarkable four seasons, which not only led to his first All-Star team selection but also marked the beginning of a career that would include a total of 15 All-Star appearances. It was during his tenure with the Magic that O’Neal received his first All-NBA team recognition as well.
On Tuesday, Shaquille O’Neal solidified his legacy with the Orlando Magic as his iconic No. 32 jersey was raised to the rafters. O’Neal holds the distinction of being the first player in the history of the franchise to have his jersey number retired.
Shaquille O’Neal’s jersey hung proudly during his jersey retirement ceremony following a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on February 13, 2024, at the Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. The image captures the moment, as captured by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images.
Shaquille O’Neal had a highly successful stint with the Orlando Magic until the 1995-96 season. However, he was taken aback when he found out that the Magic had made the decision to retire his jersey. Despite achieving great success with other teams, this gesture of recognition from his former franchise caught O’Neal off guard.
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During a ceremony after Orlando’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, O’Neal reflected on the importance of remembering one’s roots, stating, “You know, there’s an old saying: Never forget where you come from.”
“This is where my professional career began. I have spent most of my life living here, and the fans have always been incredibly welcoming. The people here have shown me tremendous hospitality. It’s something I never imagined would happen.”
“Out of all the ceremonies, this is the most exciting. … At LSU, I knew it was going to happen. … The Lakers, I kind of forced it to happen. … Orlando, I never thought this day would happen. … To be the first is definitely an honor."@Shaq on his @OrlandoMagic jersey… pic.twitter.com/W7m9aLJf3l
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 14, 2024
As the franchise commemorates its 35th season, the Magic have chosen to pay tribute to O’Neal.
Penny Hardaway, Dennis Scott, and Nick Anderson, who were former teammates of O’Neal on the Magic, attended the jersey retirement ceremony.
Magic CEO Alex Martins expressed his belief that Shaq is the most deserving candidate to be the first inductee. Martins acknowledged Shaq’s significant contribution in putting the Orlando Magic on the basketball map and emphasized that the foundation of his illustrious Hall of Fame career was established right here in Orlando.
O’Neal’s basketball legacy is immortalized in three NBA arenas, with his No. 34 jersey proudly hanging in the rafters of the Los Angeles Lakers’ arena and his No. 32 jersey similarly retired by the Miami Heat.
Shaquille O’Neal has achieved a remarkable feat in his basketball career, becoming only the third player in NBA history to have his jersey retired by three different teams. This puts him in the esteemed company of Pete Maravich and Wilt Chamberlain, who have also achieved this honor. It is worth noting that there are only eleven former NBA players who have had the privilege of having their jerseys retired by two franchises. O’Neal’s incredible impact on the game is truly undeniable.
Shaquille O’Neal expressed his thoughts on being appreciated by the fans and people of every franchise he played for. According to him, it signifies that the fans, the people, and the various teams he was a part of truly enjoyed his presence and hard work.
Shaquille O’Neal addressed the audience during a heartfelt ceremony to retire his jersey after the game between the Orlando Magic and Oklahoma City Thunder on February 13, 2024. The event took place at the Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. (Getty Images)
Shaquille O’Neal expressed deep admiration for his time in Orlando. With four jersey retirements under his belt (including one from LSU), O’Neal made it clear that this particular one held a special significance for him.
According to O’Neal, this will likely be the most impressive one.
During his time with the Magic, O’Neal showcased his prowess on the court in 295 regular-season games. Remarkably, he still holds the sixth spot on the team’s all-time scoring list. What makes this achievement even more impressive is that four of the five players ahead of him have played more than double the number of games for Orlando. Additionally, O’Neal’s dominance extended beyond scoring, as he currently ranks third in all-time rebounds for the Magic.
“This is where everything began,” O’Neal exclaimed.
The information in this report has been contributed by The Associated Press.
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