Shaquille O’Neal had a short tenure with the Miami Heat but left the franchise a legend. After playing an integral role in their 2006 Championship win, the Heat retired Shaq’s No. 32. His jersey hangs in the rafters with non-Heat players such as Michael Jordan and Bill Russell, something the Diesel isn’t a fan of.
“I hate the fact they hang up other people’s jerseys. I hope I’m not disrespecting anybody, but you know I watch a lot of movies. ‘This thing of ours’, this is what we built. Michael Jordan ain’t never played for the Heat. Bill Russell ain’t never played for the Heat. You did your own thing with the Celtics family and the Bulls family, but this is the Miami thing. I was one of the original championship families… This is our thing. I don’t like that personally. I’m not trying to be disrespectful. I’m really good friends with the Arisons and me and Pat are trying to have a better relationship, but I never did like that.”
Shaq doesn’t agree with the Heat retiring MJ’s and Bill Russell’s number
“Michael Jordan ain’t never played for the Heat. Bill Russell ain’t never played for the Heat.”
(🎥 @bigpodwithshaq / https://t.co/Fq8UjW2LsB) pic.twitter.com/XUpbap8YZ7
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) December 29, 2023
O’Neal’s feelings are legitimate on at least one front. Bill Russell’s No. 6 has been retired all throughout the NBA to honor the Celtics’ legend contributions to the NBA as a whole, whether it was being one of the early superstars of the league or being one of the faces of the Civil Rights Movement.
Michael Jordan’s No. 23 being retired was a choice the Heat took, with Pat Riley making an emotional statement about the same when he did so before Shaq’s tenure with the Heat.
“In honor of your greatness and for all you’ve done for the game of basketball – and not just the NBA, but for all the fans around the world – we want to honor you tonight and hang your jersey, No. 23, from the rafters. No one will ever wear No. 23 for the Miami Heat. You’re the best.”
Out of all Jordan rivalries in the East, the Heat weren’t as significant as the likes of the Pistons and Pacers, maybe not even the Knicks. Nonetheless, Pat Riley was personally haunted by MJ’s greatness and decided to immortalize his legacy in the Heat rafters.
Udonis Haslem Objected To Bill Russell’s Jersey Being Retired In Miami
The debate over retired jerseys of players who never played for a particular team started with Udonis Haslem and Bam Adebayo. Adebayo revealed that Haslem told his Heat teammates ‘F**k Bill Russell’ during a pregame huddle because his jersey was mandated to be retired all throughout the NBA. Haslem apologized for being disrespectful but didn’t change his tune on wanting to see Russell’s jersey removed.
“I had to repent that, I love Bill. No disrespect to Bill. He just caught that stray. Respect to Bill Russell… But will you ever see a Miami Heat jersey hanging in the Boston rafters? Respect to Bill Russell, I love him. Why the f*** he got to hang in here? The s*** that comes out of people’s mouths to us when we playing there (in Boston)? I might not take back what I said, now that I think about it.”
Jaylen Brown took offense to Haslem and Adebayo being cavalier about Bill Russell’s legacy and liked a post on X that mocked the Heat for having retired Michael Jordan’s jersey.
Ultimately, both MJ and Russell are legends of the game that bettered the sport for everyone who came after them. Fans and players won’t like it, but the Heat organization clearly doesn’t mind paying their respects to both the legends.
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