Shaquille O’Neal Jersey Retirement: Draft Night, Money, Accolades and More With Orlando Magic

Shaquille O’Neal is about to make history. The NBA legend will join Wilt Chamberlain as the only two athletes to have their jerseys retired by three franchises. The Big Man is set to receive this honor from the franchise that drafted him during the 1992 NBA draft where he was the first overall pick.

Shaq stayed with the Orlando Magic for four years before making a move to the Los Angeles Lakers where his career really took off. However, his contributions to the Magic cannot be undermined.

Shaq hit the ground running with the Magic and bagged the NBA Rookie of the Year award in 1993. The next after being drafted, Diesel made his first All-Star appearance. The trend continued for the rest of his tenure in Orlando as well. Shaq’s salary with the Magic also saw progressive growth over the years. In his rookie year he was paid $3 million, the following year it went up to $3.9 million, and for his last year with the Magic, he made $5.7 million. Despite a very short tenure in Orlando, Shaq put up some incredible numbers that still rank high on their all-time leaderboard. During his time with the Magic Shaq averaged 27.2 points and 12.5 rebounds.

In addition to that, he also has 824 blocked shots (No. 2), 3,691 rebounds (No. 3) and 8,019 points scored (No. 6) for the franchise. He has rightfully earned this honor and it was about time the Magic gave him this moment. They will be retiring his #32 jersey on 13 February. The other two franchises to retire Shaq’s jersey are the Lakers #34 and the Miami Heat #32.

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Shaquille O’Neal put the Orlando Magic on the map

When Shaq started his NBA career with the Magic, he only had one goal in mind: building his rep. He said, “It was a great four years there. I just wanted to come in and just make a name for myself.” The Big Man not only made a name for himself but also helped put the Orlando Magic on the map. Magic Chief Executive Alex Martins has only great things to say about their veteran player as they gear up for the big day.

Martins said, “When someone asks who was the first player to officially put the Orlando Magic on the map, the answer is simple — Shaquille O’Neal. He took this franchise to new heights, both on and off the court, and his legacy is still felt within our organization today.”

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