Shaq To Have His Heat Number Retired Like Former Heat Legends Dan Marino And Michael Jordan

Clem2/10/2016 8:30 PM

NBA.com- The HEAT announced today that they will retire Shaquille O’Neal’s No. 32 jersey in a ceremony at the beginning of the 2016-17 season. O’Neal will become the third HEAT player to have his jersey retired, joining HEAT greats Alonzo Mourning and Tim Hardaway.

“Shaquille O’Neal is one of the truly elite players in the history of the game and one of the greatest players to ever wear a HEAT uniform,” said HEAT President Pat Riley. “He took us to another level as a basketball franchise while leading us to our first NBA championship. Retiring his number in the rafters, along with HEAT greats Alonzo Mourning and Tim Hardaway, is something we are very proud of.”

Great move by the Heat here. Because when I hear the name Shaquille O’Neal, the Miami Heat is one of the top 3 teams I think of. Obviously the Lakers are the first team I think of and they retired his number after winning three championships in L.A. Orlando is the second team I think of, but I was surprised to find out they didn’t retire his number. Then again they are a team in Orlando named the Magic. That’s the epitome of a Mickey Mouse organization.

Some people would say that playing 205 regular season games over four seasons seems a little low to have a number retired. But I think being the third member of the Heat’s Big Three (along with Dwyane Wade and the refs) to lead the Heat to a championship in 2006 makes him worthy of the honor.

The Phoenix medical staff deserves to have their number retired for the 2008-09 season. They have apparently discovered some sort of mix of the fountain of youth and a legal substance stronger and more effective than HGH.

Now Shaq will have his number hang in the rafters with Heat greats Alonzo Mourning, Tim Hardaway, Dan Marino, and Michael Jordan. Fucking Pat Riley, man. Still can’t believe he hasn’t retired Dontrelle Willis’ number. Nobody got Miami buzzing like the D Train.

It is also my honest opinion that Shaq’s wife during his time in Miami deserves her jersey retired too. Just the sheer physics of how this all worked boggles my mind.