Picture Credit: X
Four-time NBA champion S haquille O’Neal will be the first Orlando Magic player to have his jersey number retired. O’Neal, who spent four seasons with the Magic, from 1992-26, will have his jersey numbered 32 retired after his former team’s game against Oklahoma City on February 13.
In what is Magic’s 35th anniversary season, Orlando will aim to pay tribute to their one of the greatest ever players in a post-game ceremony at the Kia Center. The NBA team, took to X (formerly Twitter) to confirm this news. “In celebration of our 35th anniversary this season, we will officially retire jersey #32 in honor of Shaquille O’Neal during a postgame ceremony on Tuesday, February 13.”
Moreover, Shaq was left in awe when Alex Martins, CEO of the Magic, made the announcement during TNT’s “Inside the NBA” pregame show, where O’Neal serves as an analyst. “The wait is over. On behalf of the DeVos family, myself and all of us at the Orlando Magic, we want to congratulate you as we make you the first jersey number retired in the history of the Orlando Magic,” Martins said.
“You had a great career here at the beginning of your career and we had some good times. You took us all the way to the NBA Finals and it’s finally time to put that number up in the rafters,” he said.
I would like to thank the DeVos family: O’Neal
“I would like to thank the DeVos family. It was a great four years there. I just wanted to come in and make a name of myself,” O’Neal said at the show.
In addition to his Magic jersey, O’Neal’s jersey was also retired by the Los Angeles Lakers, where he won three NBA titles alongside Kobe Bryant.
