ORLANDO, Fla. — Shaquille O’Neal was Orlando’s first in lots of ways. First No. 1 overall draft pick. First player to make an All-Star team in a Magic uniform. First rookie of the year. First All-NBA selection. And the first big-time superstar to leave the franchise.
It’s that last part that he figured might cost him.
O’Neal never thought that the Magic would raise his jersey to the rafters of their arena. But he was wrong, and on Tuesday night, Orlando retired O’Neal’s No. 32 — another first for the team and its first star. Most fans stayed for the postgame ceremony, even after the Magic fell to Oklahoma City , 127-113 .
“You know, there’s an old saying: Never forget where you come from,” O’Neal said. “And my professional career started here. I’ve been living here mostly all my life. The fans have been hospitable. The people have been very, very hospitable. I never thought this day would happen.”
Paolo Banchero , who led the Magic with 23 points and 10 assists, said he enjoyed a playoff-type atmosphere — noticing extra energy in the building because of the celebration for O’Neal that was happening postgame.