UNDER PRESSURE
NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal makes shock Victor Wembanyama comparison as Charles Barkley splutters ‘in what way?’
Magic execs spoke to the impact O'Neal had on the franchise after making the jersey retirement announcement
NBA icon Shaquille O'Neal compared himself to Victor Wembanyama after learning the Orlando Magic would retire his No. 32 jersey.
The four-time NBA champion, 51, received the news during Thursday's Inside the NBA live on TNT Sports.
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After thanking the organization for the honor, Shaq opened up about his NBA arrival.
And the retired 7-foot-1 center started by bringing up Wemby, who wanted to "disappear" for a few months due to the amount of attention he received when the San Antonio Spurs drafted him with the No. 1 overall pick last summer.
"I was Victor Wembanyama before him," O'Neal said.
The remark confused his Inside the NBA co-stars with both Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith asking: "In what way?"
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Shaq then explained: "You come in, they expect you to turn things around, you hav a lot of pressure on you."
"A lot of hype coming in."
Shaq lived up to the hype, according to Magic CEO Alex Martins.
"When someone asks who was the first player to officially put the Orlando Magic on the map, the answer is simple - Shaquille O’Neal," Martins said in a statement.
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"He took this franchise to new heights, both on and off the court, and his legacy is still felt within our organization today."
Chairman Dan DeVos added: "Through his dominating play, larger-than-life personality, and generous contributions to The City Beautiful, Shaquille O’Neal had a transformational impact on this team and this town."
The Magic drafted O'Neal with the No. 1 overall pick in 1992, three years after the franchise was established.
In Shaq's first season in Orlando, they improved their record by 20 wins compared to the previous season.
The following year, the team made the NBA Finals but got swept by the Hakem Olajuwon-led Houston Rockets.
O'Neal left the Magic after four years, signing with the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency before leading the team to a three-peat alongside Kobe Bryant.