I can only imagine, this was done on purpose.
The Miami Heat have announced plans to retire the great Shaquille O’Neal’s No. 32 on Dec. 22 when the Los Angeles Lakers visit American Airlines Arena.
Shaq — a recent inductee into the Hall of Fame — will become the 12th player in NBA history to have his jersey retired by multiple franchises.
The No. 34 that O’Neal wore with the Lakers was retired in 2013.
O’Neal helped Miami win their first-ever NBA championship in 2006, and will see his number lifted, albeit only spending four seasons in Miami.
“I’ll say this, and I mean this,” Riley said, “Shaq’s acquisition was bigger than any acquisition that we ever made, including the Big Three.
“The seminal moment,” Riley says, “to really make us really, really legitimate. (O’Neal) turned our franchise around. He gave us real legitimacy.”
O’Neal averaged 19.6 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks during his time with the Heat.