Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Orlando Magic to Retire Shaquille O’Neal’s Number 32 Jersey

Orlando Magic to Retire Shaquille O’Neal’s Number 32 Jersey


Hall-of-Famer Shaquille O’Neal is set to become the first Orlando Magic player in NBA history to have their jersey retired by the franchise.

The news was announced live on Inside the NBA and the broadcast crew surprised O’Neal with a video call from Magic CEO Alex Martins.

“When someone asks who was the first player to officially put the Orlando Magic on the map, the answer is simple — Shaquille O’Neal,” Martins said. “He took this franchise to new heights, both on and off the court, and his legacy is still felt within our organization today. On behalf of the DeVos family, we are excited to honor Shaquille by raising No. 32 into the rafters of the Kia Center, where it will remain forever.”

Shaq was drafted out of LSU by the Magic as the first overall pick in the 1992 Draft.

In four seasons with Orlando, the big man earned Rookie of the Year honors (1993) and led the Magic to the franchise’s first playoff appearance (1994) and first NBA Finals appearance (1995).

“I would like to thank the DeVos family,” O’Neal said on the broadcast. “It was a great four years there. I just wanted to come in and make a name for myself.”

O’Neal becomes just the second player in NBA history to have his jersey retired by three different franchises  since the Lakers retired his No. 34 jersey in April 2013, and the Miami Heat retired his No. 32 jersey in December 2016.

Wilt Chamberlain was the only other player to have three jerseys retired by three different organisations (Warriors, 76ers and Heat).

“You are one of the few men that we’ve ever seen in sports play a game and love the game the right way, create your own path and do it your way,” said Dennis Scott, O’Neal’s Magic teammate from 1992-96. “Now your number is retired in three different arenas. That’s something special.”

READ MORE: Bam Adebayo’s Brutal Reality Check and How He’s Learning From It





Source link

This website aggregates and curates news articles, blog posts, and other content from a variety of external sources. While we aim to link back to the original source, this site does not own or claim ownership of any articles, posts, or other content indexed on this site. The views, opinions, and factual statements expressed in each piece of aggregated content belong solely to its respective author and publisher. We make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of aggregated content. Visitors are advised to verify facts and claims through the original source before reuse or redistribution.