Shaquille O’Neal’s Former Teammate Awed by His Impact on Magic Team’s Quality of Life

If there’s still any doubt why Shaquille O’Neal is the first player in the history of the Orlando Magic to have his number retired, the team didn’t spare the chance to explain why. On the legendary night, Magic and the city of Orlando, through its famous names, gushed about how Shaq put Orlando on the map. The city went from being known only for Disneyland to also being lauded for its nearly crowned NBA team.

Shaq’s teammate and “best friend“, Dennis Scott revealed what the arrival of rookie O’Neal did to a then three-year-old team in 1992. “When Shaq showed up, brand new plane, two buses, a bus for the bags, and a bus for the players,” Scott revealed in a video they played during the ceremony. According to him, they used to travel in vans squeezed in with their bags before Big Diesel burst into the picture and made the Magic a noteworthy franchise.

Orlando received its own NBA team in 1989. With very few wins to their name, their luck changed with the recruitment of the LSU star. As Scott put it, “Shaq comes along. No more flying commercial. Brand new plane all of a sudden. It went from when you landed, you had a van pick you up and you carried your bags.”

The upgrades were expected. O’Neal led the team to playoffs and an NBA Final. Once you break a backboard, people are going to want to watch you and Shaq just brought those perks with his fame. Scott revealed ahead of the ceremony that they went from staying in a regular hotel to the Ritz Carlton because “You’re not putting Shaq in the regular bed.”

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Interestingly, Dennis Scott gave Shaq a different upgrade. One that Shaq revealed twice on this night.

Dennis Scott made Shaquille O’Neal feel at home

While addressing the media before the ceremony and during his speech at the main event, O’Neal revealed how Scott helped him settle in Orlando. He and his “greedy” family had racked up about $960,000 in bills staying in the Airport Hilton.

“Dennis came to me and said, ‘Hey man, you gotta get a house.’ I said, ‘I don’t know how to get a house.’ I thought that Magic was gonna do that for me.” Magic got him and his team a plane, buses, and fancy hotels. But not a house. It was Scott who introduced him to a realtor who helped Shaq buy a residence for his parents and another for himself.

Dennis Scott got a little less warm reception tonight. However, there was no shortage of love and appreciation (and a fair bit of humor) for him from Shaq tonight.

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