The Orlando Magic finally retired Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal’s No. 32 jersey to make him the first player to receive that honor in franchise history.
O’Neal voiced that he didn’t expect to have his jersey raised in the rafters but aired his unwavering appreciation.
“You know, there’s an old saying: Never forget where you come from,” O’Neal said via ESPN. “And my professional career started here. I’ve been living here mostly all my life. The fans have been hospitable. The people have been very, very hospitable. I never thought this day would happen.”
It marks the third franchise that has retired O’Neal’s jersey, making him the third player to accomplish that feat joining Wilt Chamberlain and Pete Maravich. His No. 34 jersey was retired by the Los Angeles Lakers and No. 32 was retired by the Miami Heat.
After being selected with the first overall pick in the 1992 NBA Draft, he spent four seasons with the Magic where he averaged 27.2 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game. During that span, he helped guide Orlando to the NBA Finals and a franchise-best 60 wins while being selected to four All-Star games, nominated to three All-NBA teams, and won the Rookie of the Year award.
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Despite his short tenure, O’Neal made a significant impact while ascending to one of the best players in the league. He remains among the top spots on the all-time scoring list in franchise history ranking sixth as well as third on their rebounds list.
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