Shaq Comically Recalls Prolific History of Breaking Baskets

One of the best big men in basketball history left a lot of broken rims in his wake.

Shaquille O’Neal entered the rafters once again on Tuesday night as the Orlando Magic retired his jersey. It is the first jersey retirement in the history of the franchise.

To celebrate the occasion, O’Neal was commentating on the game between the Magic and the Oklahoma City Thunder, and took some time to look back on all the baskets he had broken over the course of his basketball career.

Play-by-play man Kevin Harlan asked O’Neal just how many rims he’d broken since his high school days.

“About 27,” Shaq replied. Harlan scoffed in disbelief.

“At the military base in San Antonio, Texas, I was banned from the gym,” O’Neal said. 

.@SHAQ confirms that he's broken 27 rims throughout his career 🤣😅 pic.twitter.com/MbAt7sXfEd

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 14, 2024

O’Neal received plenty of accolades both during his playing career and since his retirement and shift to commentary, but he said that the honor he received on Tuesday night from the Magic, who drafted him with the first pick in 1992, was especially meaningful.

“Out of all the ceremonies, this is the most exciting. … At LSU, I knew it was going to happen. … The Lakers, I kind of forced it to happen. … Orlando, I never thought this day would happen. ... To be the first is definitely an honor."@Shaq on his @OrlandoMagic jersey… pic.twitter.com/W7m9aLJf3l

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 14, 2024

Maybe O’Neal has one more broken backboard left in him to celebrate the night.