The Miami Heat are set to retire Shaquille O'Neal‘s number 32 jersey and raise it up the rafters of American Airlines Arena on Thursday night.
The former MVP and 15-time All-Star played four seasons in Miami and helped bring the franchise its first NBA championship back in 2006, only two years after the team traded for him. O'Neal recently talked about his move to South Beach in 2004 and what he promised to give the city.
“I said, ‘I promise I'm going to bring a championship here,' and we did.”
Heat president Pat Riley also recalled what the 7-foot-1 center brought to the team and why he deserves to receive this honor.
“He changed the direction of our team. He brought an absolute legitimacy to our franchise. And when we won the championship, I think it sort of took us over the top. He deserves to be honored by having his number hanging from the rafters. It's not just out of respect. It's because of what he did for us.”
O'Neal's former teammate and current Heat captain, Udonis Haslem, also had nothing but good words for him and discussed what he taught the whole lineup during his stint with the team.
“Next to Dwyane [Wade], I'd have to say he's probably the best teammate I ever had. Just showing us how this NBA life works, how you can have fun and enjoy it but stay out of trouble and win games. He put so much confidence in his teammates. He really was the great Shaquille O'Neal.”
O'Neal's number 32 jersey will be the third in Heat franchise history to get such an honor, joining Alonzo Mourning and Tim Hardaway.
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