Whether he's playing with a Karl Malone puppet, giving a convocation address to a group of recent graduates or just cussing on live television, Shaq always seemed to give us something to talk about the next day. From 1991 to 1998, only one team beat Michael Jordan in a playoff series: Shaq's 1995 Magic (true, it was in the postseason following MJ's late-season comeback). To honor him, the Milwaukee Brewers retired No. It's a nice moment for the Heat, and O'Neal was exceptionally gracious, talking about the impact of other players for those Heat teams, like Udonis Haslem and Alonzo Mourning. The Heat could justify retiring his jersey, too, despite his nasty exit and quick feud with Pat Riley. NBA: Coast to Coast - Shaquille O'Neal jersey retirement - ESPN The Philadelphia 76ers retired his number three years earlier in 2001. 23 because it was retired. But his jersey retirement signaling a goodbye to all the big men might be a bit too strong a statement. The Los Angeles Lakers will retire Shaquille O'Neal's jersey before their game against the Dallas Mavericks tips off on Tuesday night, which means a career retrospective is in order. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. "Shaquille ONeal is retired. When you mention Dwight Howard, it reminds me: The strongest link between him and Shaq could turn out to be the fact that they're the two greatest players in Orlando Magic history, and it's possible that neither will have his jersey retired by the Magic. The Los Angeles Lakers will retire Shaquille O'Neal 's jersey before their game 34 Lakers jersey goes up in Staples Center on Tuesday night, Even Russell, at 6-9, would've been dwarfed by some of the centers who followed him. Pacers' Haliburton lands five-year max extension, Bane secures first $200M deal in Grizzlies history, VanVleet scores 3-year, $130M Rockets contract, Sources: Lakers retain Hachimura, add Vincent, Irving to return to Mavs on 3-year, $126M deal, Sources: Thunder acquiring Oladipo from Heat, Sources: Green back with Dubs on $100M deal, Sources: Wizards trading vet PG Morris to Pistons, B. 34 jersey during a ceremony at the Staples Center at halftime of Tuesday night's game against the Mavericks. ), "Rick Barrys resume is not good enough to even come into my office to be qualified for a job. Heat to retire Shaquille O'Neal's jersey on Thursday By Tim Reynolds | The He retired at the end of the season as a Boston Celtic. It comes down to asking how much did a player enhance the franchise. The only problem is that everybody on the Lakers was there with him, ready to dance around and pump the crowd upincluding Mark Madsen. J.A. The Diesel goes up in the rafters on South Beach. ButBlue Chips was a basketball movie; Kazaam was a Shaq movie. Brown heads to Pacers on 2-year, $45M deal, Grizzlies bring in Rose on 2-year deal, per source, Bucks, Middleton agree to 3-year, $102M deal, Grant returning to Blazers on 5-year, $160M deal, Seth Curry agrees to 2-year deal with Mavericks, Cam Johnson stays with Nets for 4 years, $108M, Herb Jones stays with Pels on 4-year, $54M deal, Sources: Heat add Richardson, bring back Love, NBA trade tracker: Grades, details for all deals for 2023-24, KD, Kawhi, LeBron (three times) and every NBA team's most impactful signing since 2010, NBA summer league 2023: News, schedule and scenes. As the Lakers continued to get eliminated in the playoffs early during his first three seasons in L.A. he worried it might never happen, and again thought his chance might have been lost when he was traded from the team in 2004 and finished his career with the Boston Celtics. So retiring either of their numbers in Orlando would essentially feel as if the Magic were saying, "Hey, thanks for putting up with us for as long as you could." His No. He changed the direction of our team, Heat President Pat Riley said. But franchises like Denver (Carmelo Anthony), Toronto (Vince Carter) and to a certain extent even Cleveland (LeBron) have a lot of thinking to do -- or a whole lot of time to let pass -- before they would consider putting those jerseys in the rafters. But when it comes to those big men and their time in Orlando, you can't argue with their impact on the franchise. It would seem as if the Magic are settling for being that second-rate franchise, as opposed to one that competes for titles regularly. Can you think of anyone coming along now who could one day belong in that group? Shaq went Hollywood just before coming to play basketball in Hollywood. The NHL retired No. But that doesn't mean we'll have some critical shortage of big men forever. How he elevated a franchise from a kind of successful expansion team to a premiere NBA franchise. The NBA's all-time leading scorer retired in 1989 after 20 years in the league. Thankfully for us, somebody took the time to compile some of his best. We still had Kareem Abdul-Jabbar near the end of his career when Ewing, Olajuwon and Robinson came along. So retiring either of their numbers in Orlando would essentially feel as if the Magic were saying, "Hey, thanks for putting up with us for as long as you could." 27 in September 2000 and the White Sox honored No. 34 jersey at halftime 34 Lakers jersey goes up in Staples Center on Pat Riley getting payback for all of @SHAQ's pranks https://t.co/WSnRuKHIQW. It comes down to asking how much did a player enhance the franchise. Brown heads to Pacers on 2-year, $45M deal, Grizzlies bring in Rose on 2-year deal, per source, Bucks, Middleton agree to 3-year, $102M deal, Grant returning to Blazers on 5-year, $160M deal, Seth Curry agrees to 2-year deal with Mavericks, Cam Johnson stays with Nets for 4 years, $108M, Herb Jones stays with Pels on 4-year, $54M deal, Sources: Heat add Richardson, bring back Love, NBA trade tracker: Grades, details for all deals for 2023-24, KD, Kawhi, LeBron (three times) and every NBA team's most impactful signing since 2010, NBA summer league 2023: News, schedule and scenes. That's what jersey retirements are all about: nostalgia. There were some well-documented troubles along the way. 10 in 2005 in recognition of Anderson's eight years and two World Series titles with the organization. Centers won it six times. After the big man retired following the 1976-77 season, the Cleveland Cavaliers retired his No. Drexler played for two teams during his NBA career: the Portland Trail Blazers, whoretired his No. The Los Angeles Lakers retired his No. But just because they aren't built like Shaq doesn't mean they can't try to play like him. 34 in separate ceremonies. 34 jersey to the rafters in a final, singular moment of triumph for a man who is perhaps one of the three most recognizable basketball players of all time. RT @NJHallofFame: "Shaquille ONeal is retired. Shaq put together averages of 38 points 16.7 rebounds, a steal and three blocks per game for the six-game series against Reggie Miller's Indiana Pacers. O'Neal brought the franchise legitimacy. Shaquille ONeal Was Two Years Old When Phillip Harrison Came Into His Life. The Jazz retired his No. WebCheck out the full jersey retirement ceremony for Shaq in Miami! Admit it: Seeing that mini-'90s Magic reunion of Shaq, Penny Hardaway and Dennis Scott in the TNT studios made you nostalgic. Jeremy Christopher Latrella on Twitter: "RT @NJHallofFame: His next game was a 40-point, 24-rebound monster of a game. The game has evolved, yes, when a 6-8, 250-pound athlete like LeBron James only dabbles in the paint and essentially runs the point. Foxxy stan account on Twitter: "RT @LakeShowYo: *After 72. The NBA is permitting a longer-than-usual halftime for the ceremony, in which Riley and ONeal will be among the speakers. "Every now and then they'll text me or I'll text them, or I'll get a telephone call. 72 in 1997. After playing 26 seasons in the NHL, Howe had his number retired by two NHL franchises. Then we got Phil and we won championships and I was always hoping and praying my jersey would get retired one day.. 32 jersey, Riley: Heat will be eyeing max free agents in 2020, Legendary Moments In NBA History: Los Angeles Lakers trade Shaquille O'Neal to Miami Heat, Heat raise Chris Bosh's No. Shaquille O'Neal Jersey Retirement Well, we started with Shaq, so I'll just end with Shaq. 22 in March 2001, and the Houston Rockets, whoretired his number in February 2000. A player like that has confidence in you, how could I ever question that?. So while the Lakers say thanks to Shaq on Tuesday night, maybe we should all say goodbye to the last of the big men. Robinson became the first player to have his number retired by the Baltimore Orioles when they retired No. "We didn't even understand it at first," Wade said. LeBron was the best thing to ever happen to the Cavaliers. And we did.. Many may remember waiting for this video to download through the incredibly slow dial-up connection just to see what everybody was talking about. The UMass Minutemen have also retired No. His alma mater, the University of Tennessee also retired his number in 2005. A year after his 1992 induction to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the Detroit Pistons also retired No. 23 retired at LSU and the current Tigers' basketball teams play at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. I know what you're thinking: "Shaq was in Blue Chips long before Kazaam was ever released." He came down here and said `Were gonna win a title, Coach. And we won a title. NBA: Coast to Coast - Shaquille O'Neal jersey retirement - ESPN Stay on current site or go to US version. MIAMI, February 9 The HEAT announced today that they will retire Shaquille ONeals No. WebAlmost Gone! As the Lakers toyed with the Nets during what was the low point of the Eastern Conference, Shaq coasted to a 36-point, 12-rebound average over the course of the four games. 6-keys: media/spln/nba/reg/free/stories, at Pacers' Haliburton lands five-year max extension, Bane secures first $200M deal in Grizzlies history, VanVleet scores 3-year, $130M Rockets contract, Sources: Lakers retain Hachimura, add Vincent, Irving to return to Mavs on 3-year, $126M deal, Sources: Thunder acquiring Oladipo from Heat, Sources: Green back with Dubs on $100M deal, Sources: Wizards trading vet PG Morris to Pistons, B. Dec 22, 24 retired by the Houston Rockets in November 1998. 34 was retired. 34 Lakers jersey goes up in Staples Center on Tuesday night, they might as well as retire the notion of the dominant big man along with it. Even Russell, at 6-9, would've been dwarfed by some of the centers who followed him. Only two players have won NBA Finals MVP awards in three consecutive seasons: Shaq and Michael Jordan (Jordan won three straight twice). We had a vision to be a championship team, Wade told The Associated Press on Wednesday, but it wasnt for real for real until Big Fella came and pulled up on that truck.. And when the Heat traded him to Phoenix in 2008, ONeal blasted Miamis personnel including guard Chris Quinn along with the teams medical and athletic training staffs. Adande/Gutierrez: Is Shaq the last great big man? Retired Hall of Fame center Shaquille ONeal shouts and waves to the fans after his No. And, in a nod to that infamous arrival, the Heat will have an 18-wheeler bearing the Diesel Power artwork that greeted him 12 years ago at the arena. While he lifted Toronto to within a game of the conference finals in 2001, it also felt like he let down all of Canada with the way he played when he wanted out at the end. Lakers Announce Date of Shaquille O'Neal Jersey Retirement Fantasy: Why the Porzingis trade helps Celtics, Wizards and Grizzlies, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. #SHAQtacularhttps://t.co/dM6N60Jex4. Shaq earned the NBA MVP, All-Star Game MVP, NBA Finals MVP and first-team All-NBA, averaging 29.7 points, 13.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists and three blocks per game. Arguably, Shaq's best game ever came after Allen Iverson showed the Lakers in Game 1 of the 2001 NBA Finals that he was going to do whatever it took to turn the final round into the A.I. Not only did it transition Shaq from being an East Coast power to a West Coast power overnight, but the style of movie showed off why he was coming to the Lakers. Couple that with Shaq dropping in near the end of that era, and it seemed that dominant big men would be around forever. Adande, who lives in L.A., and Israel Gutierrez, who lives in Miami, are teaming up this season for a look at the NBA from two perspectives. WebShaqs HEAT Jersey Retirement, Bigger For The Franchise Than You Think Commentary 6 years ago 4 min read Giancarlo Navas I was asked to write a fluff piece about Shaquille ONeals impact in Miami. 30 in June 1992. 29 in his honor. And hes never worked so And Madsen, just like the rest of the Lakers, starts dancing. Fantasy: Why the Porzingis trade helps Celtics, Wizards and Grizzlies, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. And of course, the Big Fella ended things in appropriate, over-the-top, gregarious manner: The Big Fella wants to know #CanYouDigIt? Joseph Harrison Was Born And Raised By A Jamaican Father. But the Lakers realized the story would be incomplete with that guy who won an MVP and three Russells in the purple and gold. Both of their jerseys should be in there to remind fans of what these players meant to the team. Willis Reed (6-foot-10, 240 pounds) would probably be classified as a power forward today. That's unfathomable to me. Willis Reed (6-foot-10, 240 pounds) would probably be classified as a power forward today. The problem is, retiring those numbers would only serve as a reminder to Orlando that it isn't one of the elite franchises in the league, despite two trips to the Finals. Shots fell left and right, eventually totaling 24-of-35 in all, giving him a career-high 61 points and a stellar 23 rebounds in 45 minutes of play. It seemed all too fitting. Check the Russells -- officially known as the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award. Willis Reed (6-foot-10, 240 pounds) would probably be classified as a power forward today. The truly, truly dominant centers don't come around very often at all. Mr. October won three (in a row) World Series titles with the Oakland Athletics. Los Angeles Lakers Botch Shaq's Jersey at Retirement Ceremony Centers won it six times. After recording more than 3,000 career hits and earning seven AL batting titles, both the Minnesota Twins and California Angels retired No. And we would've had another dominant center still patrolling the paint, Yao Ming, if injuries hadn't shortened his career. They already have the equivalent of a wing of an entire floor of the Hall of Fame up there, and when Kobe's jersey joins them, all five of their most recent championships will be represented. So while the Lakers say thanks to Shaq on Tuesday night, maybe we should all say goodbye to the last of the big men. I have mine.". They don't win that title without the other one, and it's strange for this to have gone down without Wade. This was during a time when the Lakers and Kings were the most heated rivalry in the game. I said `I promise Im going to bring a championship here, ONeal said. The first thing when I got with Big Fella, he said, `Ive been watching you, I like your work ethic and I can win with you, Haslem said. The only other traditional big man to take home the honor since then was Tim Duncan in 2003 and 2005. Shaquille O'Neal jersey retirement Roy's No. 20 Comments LOS ANGELES Before the Lakers spent an extra-long halftime Tuesday night to send Shaquille ONeals jersey to the rafters, Shaq was telling a story about his first NBA game with his father. ONeal appeared in 205 regular-season games over parts of four seasons with Miami, averaging 19.6 points and 9.1 rebounds. And if it had been in place before 1969, you can be sure that Russell and Mikan would have shelves full of them. Howard provided a good reason to build that fancy new arena. With the likes of Michael Olowokandi, Maurice Taylor and Pete Chilcutt checking him for the duration of the game, Shaq had no problem forcing himself into the paint and getting his way to the rim at will. They just never come around that often. Even some of the players we called big men back in the day wouldn't really be considered centers today. We were spoiled in the '80s and '90s by a group that dominated the game seemingly all at once. He said either your name is going to be up there or youre going to be a bust so it will mean a lot to have my name up there. Shaq 44 at the end of the season. NBA free agency takeaways: CBA impact, trades coming? 42 the following December. Compare that to the first nine years the NBA gave out the award. The Lakers and Celtics are the most difficult teams to earn a retired number for, but teams like the Heat don't even limit their retired numbers to their own players (there are still jokes annually about the "retired" numbers of Michael Jordan and Dan Marino). In one smooth motion, he shoves him to the ground. As much as I wasn't a huge fan of his personality sometimes (those who covered him on a daily basis know his jokes were crazy repetitive, and he got into rifts with teammates for a reason), he was such an enormous figure (slight pun intended) and made such a huge impact in his first three stops, you could justify retiring his number in any of them. On the same day in 2004, the league held the inaugural "Jackie Robinson Day." Show. For the 2016-17 season, each of the league's 30 teams will play 82 regular-season games, followed by a postseason for those that qualify. 14. Yes, Orlando would have to swallow its collective pride and admit the franchise wasn't "big enough" for Shaq, but at some point it's about the individual and not about the ego of those running the franchise, as you pointed out, J.A. The problem is, retiring those numbers would only serve as a reminder to Orlando that it isn't one of the elite franchises in the league, despite two trips to the Finals. It comes down to asking how much did a player enhance the franchise. After he was traded to the Nets in the 2004-05 season his scoring average "magically" jumped from 15.9 to 27.5. Lakers retire Shaquille O'Neal LOS ANGELES -- Shaquille ONeal was always afraid the day would never The Kings raised Gretzky's sweater to the rafters in 2002 and built a statue of him outside Staples Center. The Lakers also will have to replace the O'Neal jersey recently hung up at the team's practice facility because of the same error. WATCH: Highlights of Shaquille O'Neal's Miami Heat jersey When Shaquille O'Neal's No. They want to be shoot 3-pointers. Retire Shaquille ONeals The only other traditional big man to take home the honor since then was Tim Duncan in 2003 and 2005. While he was still playing, the Angels retired his No. 34 Lakers jersey goes up in Staples Center on Tuesday night, they might as well as retire the notion of the dominant big man along with it. If Shaq has his way, there will soon be a sixth: his former teammate, Chris Jackson. The Los Angeles Lakers have announced when they will honor former Laker He was so unique, even among the great big men of all time, with his combination of size, strength, agility and footwork. The Lakers retired Shaquille O'Neal's No. That's unfathomable to me. As much as I wasn't a huge fan of his personality sometimes (those who covered him on a daily basis know his jokes were crazy repetitive, and he got into rifts with teammates for a reason), he was such an enormous figure (slight pun intended) and made such a huge impact in his first three stops, you could justify retiring his number in any of them. He brought an absolute legitimacy to our franchise. Sir Charles joined the Phoenix Suns' Ring of Honor in March 2004 when his No. The problem is, retiring those numbers would only serve as a reminder to Orlando that it isn't one of the elite franchises in the league, despite two trips to the Finals.
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