NBA Watch League Pass

Shaquille O’Neal jersey retirement: NBA legend joins Pete Maravich, Wilt Chamberlain with Magic honor

Bryan Murphy

•
Shaquille O’Neal jersey retirement: NBA legend joins Pete Maravich, Wilt Chamberlain with Magic honor image

"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.)

"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. 

"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. 

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.

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

Bryan Murphy

Bryan Murphy Photo

Bryan Murphy joined The Sporting News in 2022 as the NHL/Canada content producer. Previously he worked for NBC Sports on their national news desk reporting on breaking news for the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL, in addition to covering the 2020 and 2022 Olympic Games. A graduate of Quinnipiac University, he spent time in college as a beat reporter covering the men’s ice hockey team.