Shaq

Dan Savage

Watch as the Orlando Magic retire Shaquille O'Neal's jersey and hang No. 32 up in the rafters of the Kia Center.

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Shaquille O'Neal's Jersey Retirement Ceremony

Shaquille O'Neal and Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins spoke to the media about hanging up No. 32 in the rafters of the Kia Center.

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Press Conference: Shaq's Jersey Retirement

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Josh Cohen

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Photos: Shaquille O'Neal No. 32 Jersey Retirement Ceremony

On opening night in 1993, O’Neal torched the Heat with 42 points on 17-of-24 shooting. Also that night, in his first NBA regular season game, Penny Hardaway posted 12 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.

O’Neal tallied 46 points, his rookie season high, on 19-of-25 shooting from the field at Detroit. The Magic’s 7-foot-1 center also grabbed 21 rebounds and blocked five shots. Scott Skiles had a big game as well that night, compiling 27 points and 11 assists, while, for the Pistons, Joe Dumars was spectacular with 39 points.

Shaq had two 20-20 performances during the 1995 playoffs, one of which came in Game 5 of Orlando’s Eastern Conference Semifinals series against Chicago with 23 points and 22 rebounds. The other was a 20-point, 21-rebound performance in Game 3 of the first round against Boston.

O’Neal's best scoring performance during the 1995 playoffs came in Game 2 of Orlando’s Eastern Conference Finals series against Indiana when he racked up 39 points on 15-of-21 shooting. Dennis Scott also was terrific in that victory, knocking down seven 3-pointers as part of his 25-point performance.

Shaq flirted with triple-doubles in each of the first two games of the NBA Finals in 1995 against Houston. In Game 1, he had 26 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists, while in Game 2, he posted 33 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists. His counterpart, Hakeem Olajuwon, was just as dominant in those contests, scoring 31 in Game 1 and 34 in Game 2.

It was always a fun battle when O’Neal and Alonzo Mourning, the top two picks in the 1992 NBA Draft, went head to head. Shaq got the best of his Charlotte counterpart in 1994, when the Orlando center exploded for 46 points and hauled down 20 rebounds. Mourning finished with 26 points.&nbsp;

Twice with Orlando O’Neal scored 49 points, tied for his fourth highest scoring total of his career. The second time it happened was against Washington’s big frontline of 7-foot-7 center Gheorghe Muresan, 6-foot-11 forward Rasheed Wallace and 6-foot-9 forward Juwan Howard. His other 49-point game with the Magic came in 1993 against the Pacers.

The most points Shaq scored in a playoff game with the Magic was 41, his total in Game 1 of the 1996 conference semifinals against Atlanta. Penny Hardaway also was sensational that night, amassing 32 points.

O’Neal’s second most impressive stat line with the Magic, arguably, came against the Wolves when he recorded 53 points, his highest with Orlando, and 18 rebounds. The only time in his career he scored more points in a single game was in 2000 with the Lakers when he erupted for 61 against the Clippers.

O’Neal had two triple-doubles in his career, including one with the Magic. At New Jersey in 1993, the eventual 15-time NBA All-Star tallied 24 points, 28 rebounds and a franchise-high 15 blocks. Shaq is one of only two players since 1975 to block 15 or more shots in a game. Manute Bol, who did it twice, is the other. The four-time NBA champion’s other triple-double came with the Heat in 2006.

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Ranking Shaquille O’Neal’s Top 10 Orlando Magic Performances

Official Release

ORLANDO - The Orlando Magic, celebrating their 35th anniversary this season, 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.

The #32 will be retired following the Magic’s game against Oklahoma City. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are available through OrlandoMagic.com or by calling 1-800-4-NBATIX. The game will be nationally televised by TNT.

“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.”

Selected by Orlando with the first overall pick of the 1992 NBA Draft, O'Neal spent four seasons with the Magic from 1992-96. He appeared in 295 regular season games (293 starts) with Orlando, averaging 27.2 ppg., 12.5 rpg., 2.4 apg. and 2.79 blkpg. in 37.8 minpg., while shooting .581 (3,208-5,522 FG) from the floor.

O'Neal was named an NBA All-Star four times as a member of the Magic, named to the All-NBA Second Team once (1994-95) and All-NBA Third Team twice (1993-94, 1995-96). He was also named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 1992-93 and was the NBA's Rookie of the Year.

O'Neal still ranks among the franchise's all-time leaders in several 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 27.2 points per game average is the second-highest in team history and he helped Orlando reach the 1995 NBA Finals.

O’Neal was inducted into the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame in 2015 and was elected into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016. He was named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team in October 2021.

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Shaq Gets the Call

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Orlando Magic to Retire #32 in Honor of Shaquille O'Neal

The Inside the NBA crew celebrates Shaq getting the news that his jersey will be retired by the Orlando Magic.

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Ernie, Kenny and Chuck celebrate Shaq getting the news that his jersey will be retired by the Orlando Magic.

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Inside The NBA: Shaq's Jersey to be Retired by the Orlando Magic

The Orlando Magic, celebrating their 35th anniversary this season, will officially retire jersey #32 in honor of Shaquille O’Neal.

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Shaquille O'Neal's Orlando Magic Highlight Mix

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Due to Tropical Storm Nicole, the NBA has announced that the Dallas Mavericks at Orlando Magic game on Wednesday, November 9 will tip-off at 5:30 PM. Amway Center doors open at 4:30 PM.