Shaquille O'Neal's No. 32 jersey first to be retired by Magic - ESPN

ORLANDO, Fla. — Shaquille O'Neal was Orlando's first in lots of ways. First No. 1 overall draft pick. First player to make an All-Star team in a Magic uniform. First rookie of the year. First All-NBA selection. And the first big-time superstar to leave the franchise.

It's that last part that he figured might cost him.

O'Neal never thought that the Magic would raise his jersey to the rafters of their arena. He was wrong. On Tuesday night, Orlando retired O'Neal's No. 32 — another first for the team and its first star.

«You know, there's an old saying: never forget where you come from,» O'Neal said. «And my professional career started here. I've been living here mostly all my life. The fans have been hospitable. The people have been very, very hospitable. I never thought this day would happen.»

The Magic, who are celebrating their 35th season, drafted O'Neal No. 1 overall in 1992. They've never retired a number for a player, but decided their anniversary season was the right time.

«There's no one more deserving to be the first than Shaq,» Magic CEO Alex Martins said. «Shaq put the Orlando Magic on the map. And the foundation of his Hall of Fame career started right here in Orlando.»

The ceremony was held after Orlando's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

O'Neal — who has No. 34 retired by the Los Angeles Lakers and No. 32 retired by the Miami Heat — is the third player to have his jersey retired by three franchises, joining Wilt Chamberlain and Pete Maravich.

Chamberlain's No. 13 has been retired by the Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors and the Lakers. Maravich had No. 44 retired by the Atlanta Hawks and No. 7 retired by the Utah Jazz and the New Orleans Pelicans — even though he never played for that