Almost 30 years after rim-rocking dunks and blocked photographs rocketing into the costly seats, the Orlando Magic retired Shaquille O’Neal’s No. 32 jersey Tuesday. O’Neal turns into the one participant in Magic franchise historical past to have his jersey retired.
“This, honestly talking, will most likely be probably the most spectacular one,” O’Neal stated forward of his jersey being elevated into the rafters. “LSU, I knew. Lakers, I type of knew. This one, I didn’t know. To begin right here, to place within the work, and to play right here 4 years and be honored this manner — it will most likely be probably the most particular one.”
O’Neal additionally turns into the second participant in NBA historical past to have his jersey retired by three totally different franchises he performed for, becoming a member of Corridor of Famer Wilt Chamberlain. O’Neal’s No. 34 was retired by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2013 and his No. 32 was retired by the Miami Warmth in 2016.
Chamberlain’s No. 13 was retired by the Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers and Golden State Warriors, together with the Harlem Globetrotters.
O’Neal was drafted by the Magic with the No. 1 decide within the 1992 draft and spent the primary 4 seasons of his profession in Orlando. He averaged 27.2 factors, 12.5 rebounds and a pair of.8 blocks via 295 regular-season video games with the Magic. Every of these marks are profession highs for any franchise he performed with.
The four-time NBA champion and three-time Finals MVP was joined by a number of former teammates to commemorate his accomplishment — specifically, Penny Hardaway.
that is love 🫶
Penny reveals off his customized jacket feat. Shaq 🪄 pic.twitter.com/mhgQE6OjSe
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) February 14, 2024
“I wish to say thanks, brother,” O’Neal stated to Hardaway throughout a pregame speech. “I do know I at all times get celebrated quite a bit, however I’ve by no means been egocentric. A whole lot of my success comes from you. You took care of me, you made me look good. So, I by no means acquired to inform you this however I at all times wished to inform you thanks.”
Why did this take so lengthy?
Though the Magic function their very own group Corridor of Fame to honor key figures in franchise historical past and inducted O’Neal in 2015, group officers had by no means retired a former participant’s quantity till they did so tonight. A part of that stems from group officers wanting their first-ever jersey retirement ceremony to honor somebody who led the franchise to its first NBA championship. However Orlando has not gained a championship but.
O’Neal put the growth Magic on the map and turned the franchise right into a contender in brief order. It could be arduous to consider now, however Orlando was one of many league’s “buzziest” franchises throughout O’Neal’s 4 seasons with the Magic — particularly the three seasons that Hardaway’s tenure coincided with O’Neal’s.
So, it’s tough for me to explain simply how devastating O’Neal’s departure in 1996 to the Los Angeles Lakers in unrestricted free company was. If something, “devastating” is just too weak a phrase.
Central Floridians took his departure personally, when, in actuality, Orlando most likely might have retained him if the preliminary supply he had acquired from them wasn’t a lowball.
Magic followers’ collective ache didn’t totally evaporate till Dwight Howard emerged as a bona fide star and led Orlando to the 2009 NBA Finals. Then when Howard requested for a commerce, a brand new ache returned over again.
So, as dominant as O’Neal was with the Magic, a time stuffed with iconic moments, his jersey retirement took so lengthy as a result of his departure decimated the group, broke the followers’ hearts and since he solely spent 4 years with the group, by no means profitable an NBA title. — Josh Robbins, Wizards senior author
Required studying
(Picture: Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel / Tribune Information Service through Getty Photographs)
