The Orlando Magic announced on Thursday that Shaquille O’Neal will be the first player in franchise history to have his jersey number retired.
The 51-year-old was drafted with the No. 1 pick by the Magic in 1992. He went on to play there for four seasons, leading the team to the NBA Finals during the 1994-95 season.
O’Neal found out the news while on TNT’s Inside the NBA show Thursday night. Magic CEO Alex Martins sent a video to O’Neal that was shown during the broadcast. Blue confetti fell down as the rest of the TNT crew celebrated their co-host.
Into the rafters forever 💙
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 5, 2024
We're excited to announce that @SHAQ will become the first @OrlandoMagic player in franchise history to have his jersey number retired on Feb. 13! pic.twitter.com/jfWtSTL9h0
“When someone asks who was the first player to officially put the Orlando Magic on the map, the answer is simple—Shaquille O’Neal,” Martins said in a press release. “He took this franchise to new heights, both on and off the court, and his legacy is still felt within our organization today.”
O’Neal’s No. 32 will be retired on Feb. 13 when the Magic face the Oklahoma City Thunder.
This will mark the third NBA team that has retired O’Neal’s number. The Los Angeles Lakers retired his No. 34 jersey after he won two NBA titles with the team. The Miami Heat retired his No. 32 after he won one NBA title.
