Watch Shaq become first Orlando Magic player to have jersey retired

For the first three seasons of its existence, the Orlando Magic looked every bit the expansion team, with a record of 70-176. Other teams saw Orlando as an automatic win on the schedule. Then, in 1992, the Magic won the NBA Draft Lottery and used the No. 1 pick to select Shaquille O’Neal out of LSU. That changed everything. Shaq led the Magic — with sharpshooters Nick Anderson and Dennis Scott as his wingmen — to a .500 record as a rookie. By his third season, Shaq and Penny Hardaway had the Magic in the NBA Finals.

Shaq put the Orlando Magic franchise on the map, and Wednesday night, the organization retired his No. 32 — the first jersey retirement in Magic history.

#32 ♾️

the first player in Magic history to have his number retired

thank you @SHAQ! 🪄 pic.twitter.com/EvfxCuTQAX

— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) February 14, 2024

The Magic decided to retire his jersey as part of the organization’s celebration of its 35th anniversary.

“You know, there’s an old saying: Never forget where you come from,” Shaq said to the crowd. “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 @OrlandoMagic honor @SHAQ's outstanding career by raising #32 into the rafters, where it will remain forever, the first in the Kia Center! ⭐ pic.twitter.com/aps1NWCuzq

— NBA (@NBA) February 14, 2024

It wasn’t always smooth sailing with Shaq and the Magic. After four seasons in Orlando he bolted for the bright lights and glamour of the Los Angeles Lakers, where he and Kobe Bryant teamed up to become one of the NBA’s great duos and win three titles. That exit hurt in Orlando, and made the day he got his jersey retired a question mark for a long time.

Ultimately, though, the Magic understood that Shaq was the guy who helped turn the Orlando Magic franchise around. Now his No. 32 hangs in the rafters.

started in the O, forever in the rafters 🪄 pic.twitter.com/sPbIG38Xph

— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) February 14, 2024

Shaq — who already had his number retired by the Lakers (he also has a statue outside Crypto.com Arena) and Heat — joins Wilt Chamberlain and Pete Marivich as the only players with their jerseys retired by three franchises.