- O’Neal played 295 regular-season games in his iconic four-year Orlando career
- He will be honored by his old team after next month’s game vs Oklahoma City
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Shaquille O’Neal is set to be honored by the Orlando Magic as the first player in franchise history to have his jersey number retired.
O’Neal, who spent four seasons with the Magic from 1992-96, will have his famous No 32 jersey retired after his former team’s game against Oklahoma City on February 13.
In its 35th-anniversary season, Orlando plans to pay tribute to one of its greatest ever players during a postgame ceremony at Kia Center.
While working as an analyst for TNT Sports, O’Neal was surprised with a special message from Magic CEO Alex Martin.
‘I hear you’ve been waiting for a phone call from us… and the wait is over,’ Martins said to the NBA legend.
Shaquille O’Neal is set to be honored by the Orlando Magic as the first player in franchise history to have his jersey number retired
While working as an analyst for TNT Sports, O’Neal was surprised with a special message from Magic CEO Alex Martin
‘On behalf of the DeVos family, myself and all of us here at the Orlando Magic, we want to congratulate you as we make you the first jersey number retired in the history of the Orlando Magic.
‘You had a great career here at the beginning of your career and we had some great times. You took us all the way to the NBA Finals and it’s finally time to put that number up in the rafters.
‘So congratulations on behalf of all of us, we look forward to having you here in Orlando to celebrate.’
O’Neal was selected by the Magic with the first overall pick of the 1992 NBA Draft and went on to make 295 regular-season appearances (293 starts).
He averaged 27.2 ppg., 12.5 rpg., 2.4 apg. and 2.79 blkpg. in 37.8 minpg., while shooting .581 (3,208-5,522 FG) from the floor.
As Martins highlighted, the legendary center also helped Orlando reached the NBA Finals in 2005.
He still ranks among the franchise’s all-time leaders in a range of fields including blocked shots (second, 824), rebounds (third, 3,691), free throws made (third, 1,602), field goals made (fourth, 3,208) and points scored (sixth, 8,019) – while his average of 27.2 points per game is the second-highest in Orlando history.
O’Neal was selected by the Magic with the first overall pick of the 1992 NBA Draft and went on to make 295 regular-season appearances
As a member of the Magic, O’Neal was named an NBA All-Star on four occasions and was also named to the All-NBA Second Team in 1994-95. He was also named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 1992-93 after being selected as the NBA’s Rookie of the Year.
‘Through his dominating play, larger-than-life personality, and generous contributions to The City Beautiful, Shaquille O’Neal had a transformational impact on this team and this town,’ said Magic Chairman Dan DeVos.
‘Our family and the entire franchise couldn’t be more pleased for Shaquille to receive this well-deserved honor, further cementing his enduring legacy here in Orlando as we collectively look back on his tremendous accomplishments in a Magic uniform.’
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