Lakers To Retire Shaq's Jersey Next Season

[Built Ford Tough]

In the immediate aftermath of Shaquille O'Neal's retirement back in June 2011, the Los Angeles Lakers announced that the franchise would retire his No. 34 jersey.

At the time, a team spokesperson said there was no timetable for when the ceremony would take place.

 

NBA.com reports on Thursday that the Lakers are expected to retire O'Neal's jersey during the 2012-2013 season, citing the rushed lockout schedule as the reason why the ceremony didn't take place this year.

 

O'Neal paired with Lakers guard Kobe Bryant to win three titles for the franchise. His time with the Lakers is generally regarded as the high point of his career, making the jersey retirement decision a no-brainer.

 

Lakers owner Jerry Buss issued a statement of appreciation for O'Neal last summer.

 

"Shaq had a long and amazing career," Buss' statement read. "A huge impact both on and off the court. His contributions were significant to the entire NBA, but we specifically appreciate what he did with and what he meant to the Lakers during his eight years with us. We have three championships that we wouldn’t have won without him, and we will forever be grateful for his significant contributions to those teams."

 

http://eye-on-basketball.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22748484/34771445

 

Shaq joins some pretty prestigious company in:

 

Abdul-Jabbar

Johnson

Worthy

Goodrich

West

Baylor

Chamberlain

 

Very well deserved for the big man.

[Lkr]

very well deserved. i remember a few years ago we used to debate whether or not the Lakers would retire his number or not, and i have always been one to support retiring his number. one of my all time favorites and probably the first true superstar of my generation(I don't consider myself as part of the Jordan era, sorry) to have his number retired.

[Sħãlïq™]

Well deserved indeed. Shaq-Fu's #34 belongs up there.

Edited February 9, 2012 by Šhãłïq