Follow usOn February 13, the Orlando Magic will retire Shaquille O’Neal’s number, making them the third NBA franchise to pay tribute to the four-time champion and Basketball Hall of Famer in this manner.
O’Neal, who wore No. 32 during his time with the Orlando Magic, will be the first player to have his jersey number retired by the franchise. The Los Angeles Lakers honored him by retiring his No. 34 jersey in April 2013, and the Miami Heat followed suit with his No. 32 jersey in December 2016. O’Neal achieved three championships with the Lakers and added another with the Heat.
Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins expressed the significance of O’Neal’s impact, stating, “When someone asks who was the first player to officially put the Orlando Magic on the map, the answer is simple — Shaquille O’Neal.” He highlighted O’Neal’s transformative influence on and off the court, emphasizing that his legacy continues to resonate within the organization. The DeVos family, on behalf of the Magic, looks forward to honoring O’Neal by permanently raising No. 32 to the rafters of the Kia Center.
As the first overall pick in the 1992 NBA draft, O’Neal spent his initial four professional seasons with the Magic before departing for the Lakers in 1996. He earned NBA Rookie of the Year honors for Orlando in 1993, achieved All-Star status in each of his four seasons with the Magic, led them to their inaugural NBA Finals appearance in 1995, and still holds prominent positions in the franchise’s career records, ranking second in blocked shots (824), third in rebounds (3,691), and sixth in points scored (8,019).
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