Orlando Magic retires Shaquille O'Neal's Number 32 Jersey (1 Viewer)

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In celebration of their 35th anniversary this season, the Orlando Magic will be retiring jersey No. 32 in a special ceremony on Tuesday, February 13, to honor Shaquille O’Neal.

This marks a historic moment as O’Neal becomes the first player in the franchise's history to have his number retired. The jersey retirement will take place after the Magic's game against Oklahoma City.

“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.
“He took this franchise to new heights, both on and off the court, and his legacy is still felt within our organization today. On behalf of the DeVos family, we are excited to honor Shaquille by raising #32 into the rafters of the Kia Center, where it will remain forever.”

Magic Chairman Dan DeVos said,

“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. 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.”

Chosen as the first overall pick by Orlando in the 1992 NBA Draft, Shaquille O'Neal had a remarkable four-season stint with the Magic from 1992 to 1996. In his time with Orlando, O'Neal played in 295 regular season games, starting 293 of them. He boasted impressive averages of 27.2 points, 12.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 2.79 blocks per game in 37.8 minutes, with a shooting accuracy of 58.1%.

O'Neal's contributions earned him recognition as an NBA All-Star four times during his tenure with the Magic. Additionally, he was named to the All-NBA Second Team once (1994-95) and the All-NBA Third Team twice (1993-94, 1995-96). His exceptional rookie season in 1992-93 led to being named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team and securing the NBA's Rookie of the Year award.

Even after leaving, O'Neal's legacy remains ingrained in the Magic's history. He holds prominent positions among the franchise's all-time leaders in various categories, including blocked shots (second, 824), rebounding (third, 3,691), free throws made (third, 1,602), field goals made (fourth, 3,208), and points scored (sixth, 8,019). His scoring average of 27.2 points per game is the second-highest in team history, and his impact was pivotal in guiding Orlando to the 1995 NBA Finals.

In recognition of his outstanding contributions, O'Neal was inducted into the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame in 2015 and received the prestigious honor of being elected into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016. Adding to his accolades, he was selected for the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team in October 2021.