Re: Heat To Retire Shaquille O'Neal's No. 32 Jersey

[RealGM Wiretap]

The Miami Heat 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. 

O’Neal’s career spanned 19 seasons as he accumulated four NBA Championships, three NBA Finals MVP’s, 15 All-Star selections, three All-Star MVP’s, a regular season NBA MVP, a NBA Rookie of the Year award and a gold medal with Team USA while being named to 14 All-NBA teams and three NBA All-Defensive teams. O’Neal appeared in 1,207 career regular season NBA games (1,197 starts) and averaged 23.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.26 blocks and 34.7 minutes while shooting 58.2 percent from the field. His professional career ranks among the best in NBA historywith 28,596 points (seventh), 2,732 blocks (eighth) and 13,099 rebounds (14th).

O’Neal, who was originally acquired by the HEAT from the Lakers in a trade on July 14, 2004 and re-signed as a free agent on August 2, 2005, played three and a half seasons in Miami, helping the HEAT capture their first NBA championship in 2006.

Via RealGM Staff Report

[Ryan91729]

3 and a half years of past prime Shaq and they're retiring his jersey!? Miami must be desperate for jerseys to hang in the rafters.

[Chris3323]

3 and a half years of past prime Shaq and they're retiring his jersey!? Miami must be desperate for jerseys to hang in the rafters.

Disrespectful

[SmashMouthRod]

Makes sense. Miami doesn't win their first chip without Shaq. Playing with Shaq was invaluable for Wade's career.

[Jazzing]

Thanks to him that the Heat won in 2006.

Wade, the role player all star, was the NBA media boy thanks to O'neal, the real superstar in that team.

[MegaK]

3 and a half years of past prime Shaq and they're retiring his jersey!? Miami must be desperate for jerseys to hang in the rafters.

Disrespectful

That just shows how dominant Shaq was. Even when Shaq was past his prime he was still able to win a championship on another team with a young wade. Miami should take Jordans jersey down, not sure why they retired his jersey in their arena when he is the reason they didn't have any shot of sniffing a finals apperance in the 90's. Doesn't make sense.

[Fellow72]

Thanks to him that the Heat won in 2006.

Wade, the role player all star, was the NBA media boy thanks to O'neal, the real superstar in that team.

You can't be serious? People will say anything these days. Everyone who watched that series knows that your statement couldn't be farther from the truth. Shaq was injured, during the championship series. SO no Wade, no championship. Not to mention that he had the one of the best championship performances of all time. You have to be a troll, you just have to be lol.