NBA: Miami Heat to retire Shaq’s jersey next month against Lakers
SCREENGRAB FROM MIAMI HEAT’S INSTAGRAM PAGE
Even after his retirement from basketball, Shaquille O’Neal’s larger-than-life accolades continue to pile up.
The once most dominating force, who’s now a respected analyst for TNT, will have his old jersey No. 32 hang up in the rafters, in a jersey retirement ceremony on Dec. 22.
It’s also worth noting that the ceremony will take place when the Miami Heat hosts O’Neal’s former team, the Los Angeles Lakers.
“The HEAT announced today that they will retire Shaquille O’Neal’s No. 32 jersey in a special halftime ceremony on December 22nd at AmericanAirlines Arena when the HEAT take on the Los Angeles Lakers,” the NBA confirmed on its website.
After eight seasons in LA that resulted in three NBA titles, The Big Aristotle was traded to Miami in 2004 due to irreconcilable differences with his co-superstar Kobe Bryant.
READ: Shaq on fall-out with Kobe: There can’t be 2 kings
His arrival gave the Heat a much-needed boost, as he would eventually help the team capture its first championship in franchise history in 2006, while also being an instrumental figure in the development of a young Dwayne Wade.
In 205 games with Miami, O’Neal averaged 19.6 points and 9.1 rebounds, and was named an All-Star in each of his first three seasons.
This will be the second NBA jersey that the 44-year-old will have retired, as the Lakers also glorified his No. 34 jersey in 2013.
O’Neal joins a prestige list of players to have multiple jerseys retired, including all-time greats Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul Jabar, Wilt Chamberlain, Charles Barkley and Julius Erving .
READ: Jordan, Abdul-Jabbar to receive Presidential Medal of Freedom
He also becomes only the third Heat player to have his number immortalized, joining Alonzo Mourning and Tim Hardaway. Khristian Ibarrola
