NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal is seemingly not a fan of the Miami Heat’s decision to retire the jerseys of Michael Jordan and Bill Russell.
Heat recently announced the plans to retire legend Udonis Haslem’s jersey in January 2024 to pay tribute to the 43-year-old’s 20 seasons of service to the franchise.
It’s worth noting that Haslem’s No. 40 jersey will become the sixth Heat number to hang in the rafters at the Kaseya Center in Miami, FL and he will join the likes of Alonzo Mourning, Tim Hardaway, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, and Shaquille O’Neal.
In addition to the former Heat legends, Miami has also retired Bill Russell’s No. 6 jersey This was the first jersey the Heat retired a jersey since they were established as an expansion franchise in 1988. On the other hand, Michael Jordan’s No. 23 was also retired. However, it’s worth noting that they never played a single minute with the franchise.
The NBA retired Bill Russell’s No. 6 throughout the league following his death in 2022. As for Jordan, only Miami and the Chicago Bulls have retired his No. 23.
Shaquille O’Neal shares his thoughts on the matter
O’Neal has played in Miami from 2004-08 and won a championship in ‘06. During the latest episode of his The BIG Podcast on Thursday, Shaq expressed his distaste towards the fact that the Heat retired the jerseys of Russell and Jordan. who voiced his displeasure over the situation
“I hate the fact that they hang up other people’s jerseys.”
When asked which non-Heat jersey retirement upset him the most Shaquille O’Neal replied:
“I hope I’m not disrespecting anybody by this term. This thing is ours. This is what we built. Michael Jordan ain’t never play for the Heat. Bill Russell ain’t never play for the Heat. You did your own thing with your little Celtics family and Chicago family, but this Miami thing? I was one of the original championship families… this is our thing. So, I don’t like that personally.”
Shaq and Udonis Haslem on Miami Heat hanging other jerseys up in rafters
“Mj, Bill Russell never played for the Heat, we built that”
“When it’s Boston, imma say more to make you not like the other side”
“I ain’t heard the sh*t that come out the people mouth in Boston” pic.twitter.com/JUBer70CV1
— Emo Jimmy (@WheelerJaylen) December 28, 2023
