Teary-Eyed Shaquille O’Neal Reveals His 3 Wishes for Jersey Retirement Day

Published 02/13/2024, 7:39 PM EST

It is a special night in the NBA. With the jersey retirement set for one of the greatest players in league history, Shaquille O’Neal, the occasion demanded some grand fanfare. While he never set foot into Kia Centre, instead playing under the lights of the Amway Arena, the Orlando Magic franchise remains extremely special to the big man.

That is why on such a prestigious occasion, he would be missing from his usual seat on the NBA on TNT Crew. Instead, an emotional night for O’Neal would see him reveal his major wishes for the evening’s proceedings. “I have two wishes today, three. Wish my father would be here, wish Mr. Devos was here, wish my baby sister would be here.”

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The first man to have his jersey retired by the Magic franchise since its inception in 1982 had a special story to tell about his first experiences after making it to the league. “You know, I was a 20-year-old kid, and my best friend Dennis Scott taught me how to be a professional…I stayed in the Airport Hilton for 45 days because I didn’t know what a realtor was. I didn’t buy a house.”

But, he wasn’t alone. Inside the hotel room is where his entire family stayed alongside him. But, after that first paycheck, courtesy of the Magic and the aforementioned Mr. Devos, the entire script flipped for the #1 pick in the 1992 NBA Draft. And it is a change that he’s extremely grateful for.

Shaquille O’Neal has nothing but gratitude for immense honor

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The Los Angeles Lakers legend believes handling certain situations and money came as a result of the culture and people around him in Orlando. As a result, “I owe a lot to this organization. I wouldn’t have wanted to start my career anywhere else.”

All 3 of the people the big man wishes were with him are unfortunately not here with us anymore. But, given the multitude of stories the big man has shared about each of them, it isn’t a long shot to assume they would be extremely proud and happy for him. In a microcosm, they might echo the same sentiments his mother, Dr. Lucille O’Neal, lay bare when the announcement was first made official.

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With the proceedings for the first jersey retirement ceremony beginning after the game, it promises to be an even more emotionally charged evening. Shaq provided color commentary during the Magic’s home game against the OKC Thunder. Though his former franchise lost the game 113-127, all of Orlando will soon be celebrating the legacy of Big Diesel.

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Written by:

Priyanshu is an NBA beat Writer at EssentiallySports, with a healthy command over the technical aspects of the sport. Priyanshu has creatively covered the often entertaining interactions between legends Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley along with in-depth analysis of the games. He was at the forefront of the 2023 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame ceremony, covering each and every aspect of the historic night in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Edited by:

Aakash Nair

Teary-Eyed Shaquille O’Neal Reveals His 3 Wishes for Jersey Retirement Day

Shaquille O’Neal has nothing but gratitude for immense honor

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