The Orlando Magic, celebrating their thirty fifth anniversary this season, will formally retire jersey #32 in honor of Shaquille O’Neal throughout a postgame ceremony on Tuesday, February 13. O’Neal turns into the primary participant in franchise historical past to have his quantity retired.
The #32 can be retired following the Magic’s sport towards Oklahoma Metropolis. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. and tickets can be found by way of OrlandoMagic.com or by calling 1-800-4-NBATIX. The sport can be nationally televised by TNT.
“When somebody asks who was the primary participant to formally put the Orlando Magic on the map, the reply is straightforward – Shaquille O’Neal,” mentioned Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins. “He took this franchise to new heights, each on and off the court docket, and his legacy continues to be felt inside our group at this time. On behalf of the DeVos household, we’re excited to honor Shaquille by elevating #32 into the rafters of the Kia Heart, the place it’ll stay eternally.”
Magic Chairman Dan DeVos mentioned, “By means of his dominating play, larger-than-life character, and beneficiant contributions to The Metropolis Stunning, Shaquille O’Neal had a transformational impression on this crew and this city. Our household and all the franchise couldn’t be extra happy for Shaquille to obtain this well-deserved honor, additional cementing his enduring legacy right here in Orlando as we collectively look again on his super accomplishments in a Magic uniform.”
Chosen by Orlando with the primary total choose of the 1992 NBA Draft, O’Neal spent 4 seasons with the Magic from 1992-96. He appeared in 295 common season video games (293 begins) with Orlando, averaging 27.2 ppg., 12.5 rpg., 2.4 apg. and a pair of.79 blkpg. in 37.8 minpg., whereas capturing .581 (3,208-5,522 FG) from the ground.
O’Neal was named an NBA All-Star 4 instances as a member of the Magic, named to the All-NBA Second Crew as soon as (1994-95) and All-NBA Third Crew twice (1993-94, 1995-96). He was additionally named to the NBA All-Rookie First Crew in 1992-93 and was the NBA’s Rookie of the 12 months.
O’Neal nonetheless ranks among the many franchise’s all-time leaders in a number of classes, together with blocked photographs (second, 824), rebounding (third, 3,691), free throws made (third, 1,602), discipline objectives made (fourth, 3,208) and factors scored (sixth, 8,019). His 27.2 factors per sport common is the second-highest in crew historical past and he helped Orlando attain the 1995 NBA Finals.
O’Neal was inducted into the Orlando Magic Corridor of Fame in 2015 and was elected into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Corridor of Fame in 2016. He was named to the NBA’s seventy fifth Anniversary Crew in October 2021.
