Photo Courtesy of Kim Klement/USA Today
Shaquille O’Neal is one of the most well-known NBA players of all time. He is also one of the most accomplished. O’Neal’s dominance led to four championships, an MVP in 2000, three Finals MVPs, and more. Now, O’Neal has another accolade under his belt. His jersey was recently retired by the Orlando Magic.
O’Neal started his NBA career with the Magic. He was the first pick of the 1992 draft. O’Neal was an impressive college player at Louisiana State University. He was a two-time All-American and SEC Player of the Year. O’Neal was one of a kind, and when he joined the Magic, he instantly made an impact. He won Rookie of the Year and the Magic finished the season 41-41 (barely missing the playoffs). O’Neal and teammate Penny Hardaway (who was drafted in 1993) became a tough duo that could have been dangerous for years to come. The duo ended when O’Neal joined the Los Angeles Lakers after contract disputes with Orlando.
Then, O’Neal went on to win championships and added various accolades to his resume.
O’Neal left Orlando, but his love and admiration for the city never went away.
“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.”
O’Neal now has his jersey retired by three teams. His jersey was retired by the Lakers back in 2013. His Heat jersey was retired in 2016. With his Magic jersey being retired, he is the third player to have his jersey retired by three franchises. The first two players were Wilt Chamberlain and Pete Maravich.
He also had his LSU jersey retired. O’Neal has done so much on the court, and now, he is receiving his flowers. Congrats to Shaq for his new accolade.
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