February 14th 2024.
At the beginning of the year, the Orlando Magic made a special announcement that had fans and NBA enthusiasts alike buzzing with excitement. They revealed that their legendary player, Shaquille O'Neal, would be the first Magic player to have his jersey retired and raised to the rafters of the arena. This momentous event was set to take place on Feb. 13 at the Kia Center, and the anticipation was palpable.
Despite a tough loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Magic ended the night on a high note by honoring one of their greatest talents. The ceremony was a fitting tribute to Shaq, who had achieved numerous milestones with the franchise, as reported by NBA.com.
During the ceremony, Shaq reflected on his time with the Magic and expressed his gratitude for the organization and its fans. He stated, "There's an old saying: Never forget where you come from. And my professional career started here. I've been living here mostly all my life. The fans have been so hospitable, and I never thought this day would happen."
Among the many fans in attendance, several of Shaq's former teammates were also present to witness this historical moment. Notably, Penny Hardaway, Dennis Scott, and Nick Anderson were there to show their support and reminisce about their time playing with Shaq.
The Magic drafted Shaq as the first overall pick in the 1992 NBA Draft, and he went on to play for the franchise for four seasons. During that time, he achieved numerous accolades, including being named the NBA Rookie of the Year and making the All-Rookie First Team in his first season. He was also voted as an All-Star every year he played for Orlando and was named to the All-NBA Second Team once and the All-NBA Third Team twice.
In his 295 regular season games with the Magic, Shaq was a dominant force, averaging 27.2 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 2.79 blocks per game. He also had a .581 shooting percentage and contributed 2.4 assists per game, playing an average of 37.8 minutes. While he led the Magic to the NBA finals in 1995, they ultimately fell to the Houston Rockets, who featured the formidable Hakeem Olajuwon at center.
Magic CEO Alex Martins praised Shaq's impact on the franchise, stating, "There's no one more deserving to be the first than Shaq. He put the Orlando Magic on the map, and the foundation of his Hall of Fame career started right here in Orlando."
It was a historic night for the Orlando Magic as they became the third NBA team to retire Shaq's number. The Los Angeles Lakers retired his No. 34 jersey, and the Miami Heat retired his No. 32 as well. Shaq now joins the elite company of Wilt Chamberlain and Pete Maravich as the only players to have their jerseys retired by three franchises.
This event not only honored Shaq's incredible career but also highlighted his significant contributions off the court. He is a champion for education and recently invested $29 million in a campus startup, showing that he is not only a legend in basketball but also an influential figure in the world of education.
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