The Magic will retire Shaquille O’Neal’s number 32

Shaquille O’Neal’s No. 32 will be retired by the Orlando Magic on Feb. 13, becoming the third NBA franchise to pay that tribute to the four-time champion and Hall of Fame member.

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Number 32 Shaquille O’Neal will be removed on February 13 by Orlando Magicwho will become the third NBA franchise to pay tribute to the four-time champion and member. Hall of Fame.

Shaquille O’NealHe will be the first player to wear the number 32 in Orlando Magic

Take his jersey number. The Los Angeles Lakers retired his number 34 jersey in April 2013, and the Miami Heat retired his number 32 jersey in December 2016. O’Neal won three titles with the Lakers and another with the Heat.

“When someone asks who was the first player to officially put Orlando Magic On the map, the answer is simple: Shaquille O’Neal“said the executive director of Orlando Magic, Alex Martins. “He took this franchise to new heights both on and off the court, and his legacy is still felt throughout our organization today. On behalf of the DeVos family, we are excited to honor him. Shakeel Raise the number 32 to the rafters at Kia Center Court, where it will remain forever.”

O’Neill He was the first pick in the 1992 NBA draft. Orlando Magicand spent his first four professional seasons there before leaving for the Lakers in 1996. He was the NBA Rookie of the Year for Orlando in 1993, an All-Star in his four seasons with the Magic, leading them to their first Finals. Ranked among the franchise’s career leaders in NBA 1995 and still in several categories, including blocked shots (second, 824), rebounds (third, 3,691) and points (sixth, 8,019).

The decision was announced Thursday on TNT’s “NBA Tip-Off,” a show O’Neal has been a part of for many years. O’Neal said he’s especially grateful to Rich DeVos, the Magic’s original owner, who died in 2018, for bringing him to Orlando.

“It was a fantastic four years there,” O’Neal said on the show. “I just want to come and make a name for myself…I want to thank the city of Orlando, thank the Orlando Magic organization. I appreciate them so much.”

The Magic have seen three other players wear No. 32 since O’Neal left in 1996. Jeremy Richardson wore it for 12 games in the 2008-09 season, Justin Harper wore it for 14 games in the 2011-12 season, and CJ wore it. He played for 95 games in two seasons from 2015-2017.

The retirement ceremony will follow Orlando’s game against Oklahoma City, which will air on TNT. O’Neal was inducted into the Magic Hall of Fame in 2015, the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016, and was named to the 2021 NBA 75th Anniversary Team.