Shaq’s Orlando Magic Jersey Retirement Ceremony – Full Speech

Shaq’s Orlando Magic Jersey Retirement Ceremony – Full Speech

[Applause] [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] forever a magic Legend number 32 Shak [Applause] [Applause] I want to say uh thank you so much I have many Wonder wonderful magic magic memories there’s no other place I would have wanted to start my career Orlando Orlando will forever have a special place in my heart it’s a real it’s cuz I get it

Right it’s a real honor to be the first Orlando Magic player to get his jersey retired although I would have expected to be number two Nick Anderson come up here I always thought if they were going to do retired jerseys you should be the first you the first Superstar here in Orlando

And I appreciate you you know for sacrificing for me you could have took the shot every time but you threw it in so again so I I I definitely want to come back here when your jersey gets you tired so thank you very much stay up here Penny Hardway get up

Here Penny you told a lie in your speech you said that you wouldn’t have been you if it wasn’t for me I could say the same thing brother uh I owe you everything you know I didn’t know who he was and then we started shooting Blue

Chips and you know was in my my contract my agent L we put in our contract that we play ball every day and I went to him I said who is this damn actor throwing me the ball every time is he in the NBA they said yes PNY Hardway and I can

Remember Dennis saying hey man you got to go upstairs and you know tell him tell him you want Penny Hardway so I I called John and I said John you know about this guy Penny Hardway said well we can’t get him I said well John you

Need to get him so they picked Chris Weber and I was eating some Papa John’s and eating Pepsi and I told my damn house out I was like damn it John and then John and Alex called me said watch this and then they said David St said

They made a trade and you know when Penny came here I know he was going to do some special things so I appreciate you very much and I wouldn’t be here without you so stay up here cuz even though you guys are celebrating me this is definitely our night and I want you

Guys to celebrate this night with me uh Tracey McGrady is another player could have his jersey retired Dennis Scott get up [Applause] Here we could tell when Dennis was speaking we could tell he was a little drunk but that’s okay special night tonight Dennis was the guy that taught me how to be a professional when I first got here I didn’t know anything about anything me and my greedy family we stayed at the

Airport Hilton our bill was 900 60,000 and then Dennis came and said hey man you got to get a house I like I don’t know how to get a house I I thought the magic was going to do that for me so he he introduced me to a realtor I got

My mom and dad a house in Lake Mary I got myself a house in ourworth and he just told me ought to be professional so again guys are celebrating me but I wouldn’t be here without you guys especially you guys so again Grant Hills another guy who can have his jersey retired

So you know they had the Ring of ceremony I think four or five years ago and I actually thought I was getting my jersey retired that night and then I went upstairs and we did a little thing and the Press comment like when am I getting my jersey like no they don’t do

That here I was like damn but I admit 32 looks good up there thank you if I had two wishes today if I had two wishes today my first wish would be is been my father Sergeant Philip Harrison was here tonight without him My Success than you without my

Father my success and accomplishments in basketball would not have been realized he believed in me even when I struggled to believe in myself he gave me guidance he gave me encouragement he gave me discipline he gave me ass whooping so this honor is for him too

And my second wish I wish your legendary Rich Deval was also in attendance he saw potential in a young kid from LSU he took a chance on me and for that I am forever grateful to him your legacy endures sir and your impact on my life will never be

Forgotten also I want to thank Dan DeVos Alex Martins for his recognition special shout out to my mama Lucille [Applause] for her unwavering support and unconditional love and her ass whooping also love you mommy also want to thank my seven children who never sto inspiring me to

Be a better father and a better man also want to thank my brother Jamal and my sister Latifah and hopefully my other sister Aisha is in heaven watching this ceremony alongside my father and Mr DeVos I want to thank the whole Orlando Magic organization former teammates here guys

Come on up here with me everybody come on up Greg Joe wolf Todd you used to file the out of me in practice you come on up here too Donald Royal Terell green Joe wolf Keith Tower tree Rollins John conak Greg kite all the former te teammates that I play with

Coaches coach hill come on up here doesn’t coach doesn’t coach H look like Bob Barker coach I’m not into elderly men but godamn you look beautiful sir and thanks to John Gabriel Pat Williams and I want to thank the fans I know you guys could have been anywhere you stayed for

Me appreciate you saying thank you for giving me the opportunity to wear the blue and white Orlando will forever hold a special place in my heart I’ll always be proud to be part of this magic franchise thank you all and I appreciate you very much and thank you guys without

You guys there would be no me Greg L all you guys I want you to stand up here with me because it’s never about me it’s about us and I couldn’t be me without you guys especially jtmf money and the MF stands for exactly what you think it

Stands for jtmf money so I want to appreciate you guys thanks for coming out and to and to the the divos family whenever you want me to quit TNT and come back home you give me a call I’ll be here in an instant love you guys thank you for coming out drive

Safe magic fans one more time for number 32 Shak yeah

Shaquille O’Neal becomes the first player in Orlando Magic franchise history to have their jersey retired. Watch Shaq’s No. 32 go into the rafters and his full speech.

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