The energy in the Kia Center was electric well before tipoff as the city of Orlando was buzzing with basketball excitement this Tuesday night. It was different from any Orlando Magic game. Tonight the team honored perhaps one of the most important Magic players of all time, Shaquille O’Neal, with the retiring of his jersey and number.
This is the first time in the Magic’s history that they are retiring a number of a former player and 9450 Media was present at the ceremony. But first the present-day Orlando Magic had to take care of business against second best in the West, Oklahoma City Thunder.
With stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Willams and Chet Holmgren, this would have been a sellout at the Kia Center even without Shaq’s ceremony happening.
Unfortunately for the Magic, Jalen and Shai caught fire in the second half to run away with the game and they were able keep a steady lead going down to the end of the fourth. Jalen Williams finished with 33 points while SGA had 32 points and 5 assists. Chet Holmgren finished with 13 points, 9 rebounds and 5 blocks – continuing a solid campaign for the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award. The Thunder won 127-113.
For the Magic, first time All-Star Paolo Banchero led with 23 points and 10 assists, center Wendell Carter Jr. had 22 points and 7 rebounds.
After the game, Shaquille’s ceremony proceeded. Featuring teammates such as Nick Anderson and Penny Hardaway, members of the front office from his career on the Magic (spanning 4 seasons 1992-1993 to 1995-1996) – it was remarkable to hear stories from that era of his career. Not only did Shaq impact to game with his on-court abilities but he helped turn Orlando into a basketball destination.
Amongst the accolades he received with the Orlando Magic, a core highlight of his time here was winning the Eastern Conference Finals and making the NBA Finals in 1995 against the Houston Rockets (who then went on to win in a sweep).
A montage of his greatest moments played during the ceremony, featuring backboard breaking dunks and the smile of a big kid living out his basketball dreams. Shaq’s jersey is the first to be retired by the Magic and almost every guest speaker shared the sentiment he put Orlando on the map in terms of basketball and national consciousness. I don’t believe anyone in the city would disagree.
