By: Justin Gincauskas
Orlando will have its first jersey retirement ceremony in franchise history next month. The Orlando Magic announced Thursday that in celebration of the team’s 35th anniversary, they will retire Shaquille O’Neal’s jersey number 32. The ceremony will take place after the Magic game on Feb. 13.
“When someone asks who was the first player to officially put the Orlando Magic on the map, the answer is simple — Shaquille O’Neal,” said Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins. “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.”
O’Neal’s Career With The Magic
The Magic selected O’Neal with the first overall pick in the 1992 NBA Draft. In his first season with the team, O’Neal averaged 23.4 points per game and was named Rookie of the Year. He spent his first four seasons with the Magic and was named an All-Star each year. During the 1994-95 season, O’Neal led the league in points per game, averaging 29.3 points per game that year with Orlando.
The Orlando Magic made the postseason three times with O’Neal. After losing in the first round in 1994, O’Neal led the Magic to the NBA Finals the following year. Orlando would lose in four games to the Houston Rockets despite O’Neal averaging 28 points and 12.5 rebounds per game in the series. In his last season with the franchise, O’Neal brought the Magic back to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they lost to the Chicago Bulls.
After the 1995-96 season, O’Neal left the Magic and signed with the Los Angeles Lakers. He won three titles with the Lakers and had his number 34 retired by the team in 2013. The Miami Heat also retired O’Neal’s jersey, raising his number 32 to the rafters in 2016. O’Neal played parts of four seasons with the Heat and helped them capture a championship in 2006.
The Orlando Magic take on the Oklahoma City Thunder when they retire the jersey of O’Neal on Feb. 13. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. ET, and TNT will nationally televise the game.
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