Last Tuesday night during halftime of the Los Angeles
Lakers/ Dallas Mavericks game, the Los Angeles Lakers held a ceremony to retire
one of the greatest NBA basketball players number. A tribute to the number 34
of Shaquille O’Neal into the NBA Hall of Fame. You may formerly know him as:
Shaq, Shaq- Daddy, Shaq-Fu, Diesel, The Big Aristotle, Superman, MDE, The Big
Maravich, The Big Fella, The Big Shaqtus, The Big Cordially, Big Shamrock,
Manny Shaq-iaou, Kazaam, or Dr. Shaq. I hope that rings a bell.
During the ceremony, despite their differences, Kobe Bryant
made a video that was played on the big screen congratulating his former
teammate. The dynamic duo accounted for 3 consecutive titles together (2000,
2001, and 2002) under Coach Phil Jackson who was in attendance and spoke as
well reminiscing on all of the good times Shaq and he had shared. A highlight
video of Shaq’s early days as a LA Laker followed. The prodigy himself spoke on
his love for the Laker franchise. Finally, the unveiling of O’Neal’s jersey on
the Lakers Hall of Fame wall. Shaq’s jersey is framed next to the 9 other
retired greats of Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, Jerry West, Kareem
Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, Elgin Baylor, Gail Goodrich, Jamaal Wilkes, and
sportscaster Chick Hearn.
check out the entire ceremony here:
P.S. – the framed jersey that is currently hung now has “O’Neal” and “#34” on the front of the jersey not the back, whoops?
PSS
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