Arr, me hearties! NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal be flabbergasted! Never reckoned this day'd come when me jersey be retired, aye!
2024-02-14
Arrr, 'twas in the fair town of Orlando where young Shaquille ONeal set sail on his journey to the glorious Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. 'Twas there he learnt the ways of a true NBA buccaneer, aye!
Shaquille O'Neal, a retired NBA player, recently had his jersey retired by the Orlando Magic, the team where he started his professional career. O'Neal was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1992 NBA Draft and spent four seasons in Orlando. During his time there, he achieved many milestones, including being named to his first All-Star team and an All-NBA team. O'Neal's No. 32 jersey was raised to the rafters in a ceremony after a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He is the first player in franchise history to have his jersey retired. O'Neal expressed surprise and gratitude at the honor, saying that he never thought this day would happen. Former teammates such as Penny Hardaway and Dennis Scott attended the ceremony. The Magic's CEO, Alex Martins, praised O'Neal for putting the team on the map and starting his Hall of Fame career in Orlando. O'Neal now has jerseys retired in three NBA arenas, including the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat. He joins an exclusive list of players, including Pete Maravich and Wilt Chamberlain, who have had their jerseys retired by three different teams. O'Neal spoke highly of his time in Orlando, saying that this retirement ceremony was the most impressive one for him. He played in 295 regular-season games for the Magic and remains sixth on the team's all-time scoring list. O'Neal is grateful for the support and appreciation from the fans and the people in Orlando, where it all started for him.