Categories: Courtside

Lakers retire Shaquille O’Neal’s jersey with speeches from Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson & Jeanie Buss [video]

Tuesday night in LA, the “Most Dominant Ever” jersey was retired at  Staples Center. Shaquille O’Neal, accompanied by his children and his mother watched his #34 raised into the rafters by the Lakers.

The halftime ceremony which featured a video from Kobe Bryant and speeches by  Phil Jackson and Lakers EVP Jeanie Buss. The three shared memories and laughs of the “Shaq years” including Phil recalling a time Shaq showed up for practice naked with only sneakers on and an emotional Jeanie who thanked Shaq for his “talent,” “sense of humor,” and “winning.”

Shaq took the mic and kicked it off with one of his signature catch phrase from those 3 Laker titles tun that began in 200o with “can you dig it?”

He dedicated the occasion to the late Dr. Jerry Buss, thanked his mom, saluted his dad, thanked his six children, as well as Jerry West, and Coach Phil Jackson (when he thanked Jackson, the entire arena erupted in a “We want Phil!” chant). AWKWARD… Shaq broke that moment with a quick reply, “I want Phil too.”

 

O’Neal, who retired from the NBA in 2011 after 19 years in the NBA. Oneal was drafted to the Orlando Magic and later joined the Lakers in 1996. He spent eight seasons with the Lakers, winning three championships (2000, 2001, 2002)

video via Jose3030

photos via Lakers & LA Live

Jill Munroe

Jill Munroe is a Los Angeles-based host, producer, and writer. You can find her work on sites such as FoxSports.com, EURweb.com, and MSN.com. Munroe is a current member of the African-American Film Critics Association and the National Association of Black Journalists. Munroe has also been a frequent guest on ESPN radio and Yahoo Sports. In 2015, Munroe released her first book, "PostGame Pass: access into "the life" JillMunroe.com

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