By David Jordan Jr
This week the Orlando Magic retired the first ever jersey in the team’s history. As the Orlando Magic celebrate there thirty-fifth year in existence, the organization retired the first ever jersey, raising the Shaquille O’Neal’s #32 to the rafters. Joined by many of his former teammates, the home crowd celebrated the legacy “Shaq” created during his time playing for the franchise.
O’Neal was drafted by the Magic as the number one overall pick in the 1992 NBA Draft out of Louisiana State University. O’Neal rookie season would see him set the league on fire, as his skill and charismatic personality catapulted the Orlando Magic to the international stage.
The 1992-1993 season would see O’Neal voted to the all-star game, win NBA Rookie of the Year honors and be named to the All-NBA Third Team. In his second year with the Magic, O”Neal would team with rookie Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway to lead the Magic to their first ever appearance in the NBA Playoffs as he was again voted to the NBA all-star game and the NBA All-Third Team. The apex of O’Neal career in Orlando would be in his third season as he would win the NBA scoring title averaging 29.3 points per game, finish second in MVP voting, be again voted to the NBA All-Star Game and with Nick Anderson, Dennis Scott, Penny hardaway and newly acquired Horace Grant lead the Magic to the 1995 NBA Finals.
Check Out The Full Jersey Retirement Ceremony Below
