“Never forget where you come from.”
Shaquille O’Neal, 51, played for a number of teams in the NBA. The four-time champion is best known for his time with the Lakers and the Heat, while also making late-career stops with the Suns, Cavaliers and Celtics.
But on Tuesday night, the big man got a chance to go back to where it all started.
The Magic honored O’Neal by making him the first player to have his jersey retired by the franchise, sending his No. 32 up in the rafters at the Kia Center. Orlando drafted O’Neal in 1992, and he played the first four years of his career with the Magic.
His jersey already has been retired Los Angeles Lakers (No. 34) and the Miami Heat (No. 32), so with the Orlando ceremony, O’Neal joins Pete Maravich and Wilt Chamberlain as the only NBA players to have their jerseys retired by three franchises. (Bill Russell’s No. 6 was retired by the league in 2022.)
#32 to the rafters!@SHAQ x @OrlandoMagic pic.twitter.com/mPo70j28Fd
— NBA (@NBA) February 14, 2024
#32 ♾️
the first player in Magic history to have his number retired
thank you @SHAQ! 🪄 pic.twitter.com/EvfxCuTQAX
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) February 14, 2024
started in the O, forever in the rafters 🪄 pic.twitter.com/sPbIG38Xph
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) February 14, 2024
“You know, there’s an old saying — never forget where you come from,” O’Neal said. “And my professional career started here. I’ve been living here mostly all my life. The fans have been hospitable. The people have been very, very hospitable.
“I never thought this day would happen.”
MORE: Are we sure Victor Wembanyama isn’t the DPOY?
Shaquille O’Neal Magic jersey retirement
The disbelief from O’Neal upon his jersey retirement is not necessarily due to his own career. The No. 1 pick from 1992, O’Neal made an immediate impact as a dominant force in the paint and on the glass, helping lead the Magic to an NBA Finals appearance in just his third season.
However, Tuesday night was not just monumental for O’Neal, but it also marked the first time ever that the Orlando club retired a number. Before Shaq’s ceremony, the Magic were one of only three NBA teams without any numbers hung up in the rafters, never to be worn again.
O’Neal received the opportunity to reflect on his career in Orlando before his ceremony. He called the honor bestowed upon him by the Magic is the “most special” of his career.
Shaq says tonight’s jersey retirement with the Magic will be the “most special” of his career 🤩
“To start here… and to be honored this way, this will probably be the most special one… When he delivered the message on TNT, I wanted to cry.”pic.twitter.com/907Xk29Z9Z
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 13, 2024
“This will be the most impressive one,” O’Neal said. “LSU, I knew. Lakers, I kind of knew. This one, I didn’t know. To start here and to put in the work and to play four years and to be honored this way, this will probably be the most special one.
“When he delivered the message on TNT, I wanted to cry.”
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Shaq moment without the “NBA on TNT” crew. The group, including O’Neal’s desk companions Ernie Johnson, Kenny “The Jet” Smith and Charles Barkley, gave the big man his props.
Congratulations, @Shaq!
We ♥️ you, Big Fella. pic.twitter.com/sWkOCMznZ5
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 14, 2024
MORE: Why NBA teams think LeBron James could take a pay cut in free agency
Here is a look at some of the other best moments from Shaq’s jersey retirement ceremony.
“In basketball, I want to be remembered as one of the most dominant players ever. In real life, I want to remembered as ‘he was a nice guy.'”
– Shaq ahead of his jersey being retired by the Magic tonight 🙌 pic.twitter.com/CLDXAK5bie
— NBA (@NBA) February 13, 2024
.@SHAQ confirms that he’s broken 27 rims throughout his career 🤣😅 pic.twitter.com/MbAt7sXfEd
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 14, 2024
Penny Hardaway’s custom Shaq jacket is FIRE 🔥
📸: @OrlandoMagic pic.twitter.com/yvuqaEjL0v
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) February 14, 2024
“You made me great watching you become great… I owe my entire career to having you in my life.” 💙@Iam1Cent’s message to Shaq pic.twitter.com/WpEFLNkqC2
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 14, 2024
https://t.co/ePz8crVbqt pic.twitter.com/UChyc14Mef
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) February 14, 2024
Shaquille O’Neal stats with Magic
O’Neal wasted no time adjusting to the NBA. As a rookie, the center averaged 23.4 points per game, 13.9 rebounds and 3.5 blocks. He was a monster on both ends of the court, powering his way to Rookie of the Year.
He went on to enjoy sustained success for another three years. O’Neal averaged over 20 points per game and 11 rebounds per contest every season in Orlando. In his career, he averaged 27.2 points, 12.5 rebounds and 2.8 blocks in 295 games as a member of the Magic.
| Season | Games | Minutes/G | Points/G | Rebounds/G | Assists/G | Steals/G | Blocks/G | FG% | FT% |
| 92-93 | 81 | 37.9 | 23.4 | 13.9 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 3.5 | 56.2 | 59.2 |
| 93-94 | 81 | 39.8 | 29.3 | 13.2 | 2.4 | 0.9 | 2.7 | 59.9 | 55.4 |
| 94-95 | 79 | 37.0 | 29.3 | 11.4 | 2.7 | 0.9 | 2.6 | 58.3 | 53.3 |
| 95-96 | 54 | 36.0 | 26.6 | 11.0 | 2.9 | 0.6 | 2.9 | 57.3 | 48.7 |
