The Orlando Magic is set to honor one of the most iconic figures in their history, Shaquille O’Neal, by retiring his jersey number 32, the NBA team announced Thursday.
The 51-year-old athlete will be the first player in the franchise to receive this honor, the news release stated. “In celebration of our 35th anniversary this season, we will officially retire jersey #32 in honor of Shaquille O’Neal during a postgame ceremony on Tuesday, February 13,” Orlando Magic wrote on Twitter.
“When someone asks who was the first player to officially put the Orlando Magic on the map, the answer is simple – Shaquille O’Neal,” said Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins, per Orlando Magic PR. “He took this franchise to new heights, both on and off the court, and his legacy is still felt within our organization today. We are excited to honor Shaquille by raising No. 32 into the rafters of the Kia Center, where it will remain forever.” (RELATED: Andruw Jones To Have His No. 25 Jersey Number Retired By Atlanta Braves)
In celebration of our 35th anniversary this season, we will officially retire jersey #32 in honor of Shaquille O’Neal during a postgame ceremony on Tuesday, February 13.
O’Neal becomes the first player in franchise history to have his number retired 🪄 pic.twitter.com/i5zk1b6IR9
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) January 5, 2024
“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,” Magic Chairman Dan DeVos said, Orlando Magic PR added. “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.”
Drafted as the No. 1 pick by the Magic in 1992, O’Neal quickly became a central figure in the team, the press release noted. His four-season stint with the Magic was marked by remarkable achievements, including leading the team to the NBA Finals in the 1994-95 season. His impact on the team was not just in his gameplay but also in how he brought the Magic into the national spotlight.
The announcement came as a surprise to O’Neal during a broadcast of TNT’s “Inside the NBA” show Thursday night. In a moment filled with emotion and celebration, Martins delivered the news via a video message. “I hear you’ve been waiting for a phone from us, and the wait is over. On behalf of the DeVos family and myself, and all of us here at the Orlando Magic, we wanna congralutate you as we make you the first jersey no. retired in the history of the Orlando Magic,” Martins said.