Magic retire Shaq's No. 32 jersey
Shaquille O'Neal was Orlando's first in lots of ways. First No. 1 overall draft pick. First player to make an AllStar team in a Magic uniform. First rookie of the year. First All-NBA selection. And the first big-time superstar to leave the franchise.
It's that last part that he figured might cost him.
O'Neal never thought that the Magic would raise his jersey to the rafters of their arena. But he was wrong, and on Tuesday night, Orlando retired O'Neal's No. 32 — another first for the team and its first star.
“You know, there's an old saying: never forget where you come from,” O'Neal said. “And my professional career started here. I've been living here mostly all my life. The fans have been hospitable. The people have been very, very hospitable. I never thought this day would happen.”
The Magic, who are celebrating their 35th season, drafted O'Neal No. 1 overall in 1992. They've never retired a number for a player, but decided their anniversary season was the right time.
“There's no one more deserving to be the first than Shaq,” Magic CEO Alex Martins said. “Shaq put the Orlando Magic on the map. And the foundation of his Hall of Fame career started right here in Orlando.”
O'Neal — who has No. 34 retired by the Los Angeles Lakers and No. 32 retired by the Miami Heat — is the third player to have his jersey retired by three franchises, joining Wilt Chamberlain and Pete Maravich.
Chamberlain's No. 13 has been retired by the Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors and the Lakers. Maravich had No. 44 retired by the Atlanta Hawks and No. 7 retired by the Utah Jazz and the New Orleans Pelicans — even though he never played for that franchise. His number is retired in New Orleans because he played there for the Jazz and went to LSU.
Later in the game, Jalen Williams scored 33 points, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 32 points and five assists and Oklahoma City beat Orlando, 127-113. CELTICS 118, NETS 110 >> Jayson Tatum had 41 points and 14 rebounds, and Boston won its fifth straight game by beating Brooklyn in the opener of a home-andhome series. Jaylen Brown added 19 points for the Celtics, who improved to 42-12. HEAT 123, BUCKS 97 >> Nikola Jovic scored a career-high 24 points, Bam Adebayo had his second triple-double of the season and Miami rolled to an easy victory at
Milwaukee.
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