NBA Icon Shaquille O’Neal to Have His Jersey Retired by the Orlando Magic
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Shaquille O’Neal, the NBA icon with four championships and infinite nicknames, will soon have his jersey retired by the Orlando Magic.
The Orlando Magic, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary this season, announced late Thursday that it will retire the No. 32 jersey of O’Neal. The legendary center — who was inducted into the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame in 2015 and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016 — was the first overall pick by the Magic in the 1992 NBA Draft.
O’Neal’s jersey will be retired during a postgame ceremony on Feb. 13 at the Kia Center in Orlando, Fla., following the Magic’s home game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET and the game will air live on TNT.
O’Neal will become the first Magic player to have his number retired.
“When someone asks who was the first player to officially put the Orlando Magic on the map, the answer is simple: Shaquille O’Neal,” Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins said in a statement. “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 No. 32 into the rafters of the Kia Center, where it will remain forever.”
O’Neal spent four seasons with the Magic, from 1992-1996, winning the NBA Rookie of the Year award in 1993 and earning NBA All-Star honors four times as a member of the team. He also led Orlando to the 1995 NBA Finals.
“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,” said Orlando Magic chairman Dan DeVos in a statement. “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.”
During his time with Orlando, O’Neal laced up several signature shoes with Reebok, with multiple regarded as all-time classics by hoops fans and sneakerheads alike. His first shoe, the Reebok Shaq Attaq, was released in 1992 and designed by Judy Close. The popular “Orlando” colorway is available on the resale market now, including StockX, with prices currently ranging from $74 to $326. Also, Reebok.com has a white, black and gold metallic colorway available with a $180 retail price tag. O’Neal would wear several other shoes under the Shaq Attaq franchise as a member of the Magic.
O’Neal also wore the bold Reebok Shaqnosis signature shoe during his time with the Magic. The eye-catching black and white colorway is available now via StockX, with prices ranging from $119 to $525.
About the Author
Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.