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 shall be retired following the Magic’s recreation towards Oklahoma Metropolis. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. and tickets can be found by means of OrlandoMagic.com or by calling 1-800-4-NBATIX. The sport shall 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 courtroom, and his legacy remains to be felt inside our group at the moment. 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’s going to stay perpetually.”
Magic Chairman Dan DeVos mentioned, “By his dominating play, larger-than-life character, and beneficiant contributions to The Metropolis Lovely, Shaquille O’Neal had a transformational affect on this workforce and this city. Our household and the complete 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 large 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 taking pictures .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 Workforce as soon as (1994-95) and All-NBA Third Workforce twice (1993-94, 1995-96). He was additionally named to the NBA All-Rookie First Workforce in 1992-93 and was the NBA’s Rookie of the Yr.
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 recreation common is the second-highest in workforce 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 Workforce in October 2021.