February 14, (THEWILL) – The Orlando Magic paid tribute to franchise legend Shaquille O’Neal, on Tuesday, by retiring his No. 32 jersey, nearly 30 years, after his thunderous slams and swatted shots lit the arena. O’Neal becomes the first and only player in Magic history to have his jersey number elevated to the rafters.
O’Neal stated prior to his jersey elevation that this would likely be the most meaningful retirement for him. He expected his jersey to be retired by LSU and the Lakers but did not anticipate the Magic bestowing this recognition. Having started in Orlando, dedicated himself during his tenure, and played four seasons before moving on, O’Neal considers this Orlando tribute exceptionally special.
O’Neal additionally becomes the second NBA player to have his jersey retired by three separate franchises, joining legendary Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain. Chamberlain’s No. 13 jersey was retired by the Lakers, 76ers and Warriors, along with the Globetrotters. The Lakers previously retired O’Neal’s No. 34 in 2013, followed by the Miami Heat retiring his No. 32 in 2016.
The Magic selected O’Neal as the 1st overall draft pick in 1992, with the prodigy spending his first four NBA seasons manifesting his talents in Orlando. Over 295 regular season contests, he averaged 27.2 points, 12.5 rebounds and 2.8 blocks career highs across franchises. Several ex-teammates attended to commemorate the occasion, most notably Penny Hardaway.
In his remarks, O’Neal thanked Hardaway, crediting his former teammate for much of his success during those early years. Hardaway supported and enhanced O’Neal, though O’Neal never properly expressed his gratitude until this jersey retirement milestone.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
