Shaquille O’Neal’s complicated Magic legacy shouldn’t deny him Hall of Fame entry
Shaquille O’Neal‘s Hall of Fame entry has created a debate among Orlando Magic fans. His complicated legacy with the team is very much a part of his entry.
The Orlando Magic have never had a great relationship with their departed superstars.
Yet, last year, during the team’s 25th anniversary celebration, the Magic welcomed home star after star to rousing ovations.
Anfernee Hardaway left the Magic as the spoiled superstar too injured to have much reason for criticism of the franchise he helped lift. He returned to cheers.
Tracy McGrady left as the malcontent unwilling to go through the pains of rebuilding a young roster (and incapable of carrying a team out of the first round). He returned to cheers.
Dwight Howard . . . those wounds might be too fresh.
Shaquille O’Neal never came back. Why? That might be an answer best left in the back rooms of Amway Center and Magic offices. What is known is he is getting his desserts now and his recognition from the team for the four years he played with the Magic.
Nostalgia has a funny way of taking things over. Making us forget the bad and remember the good. Especially when the old wounds have had time to heal and scab over, leaving only the remnant of what was there before.
That has not quite happened with Shaquille O’Neal. He has repeatedly picked over the scab, letting the bad memories flood and overcome any good he did in the four years he spent in a Magic uniform and the immeasurable impact he has had even from that short stint.
The stats and impact are pretty obvious. There is no doubt based on his playing merit alone that O’Neal is worthy of entry into the Orlando Magic’s Hall of Fame.
O’Neal averaged 27.2 points per game and 12.5 rebounds per game in his four seasons in Orlando. More than that, O’Neal made the Magic an international brand and instantly relevant. The team went to its first Playoffs behind O’Neal’s magnanimous personality. The team went to the Finals the following year and the Magic were the most popular sports team in the country.
O’Neal had the power to change the franchise’s future. And he did when he arrived and then when left somewhat abruptly.
How that came to pass is a matter of local lore and a story that still affects the organization and its operations (see: the Dwight Howard saga).
It would be impossible to ignore O’Neal’s imprint on this franchise both good and bad. The good is why he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame, the bad is why it still does not seem right.
The exit was messy. All superstar’s exits are.
It is the way O’Neal seemingly and constantly seemed to needle the franchise. Whether it was calling the city a “small pond” on his way out the door, constantly needling the Magic’s new superstar in Dwight Howard or any number of slights both real and imagined. It became harder and harder for the fan base to move on and let the good outweigh the bad.
Even after nearly 20 years.
Not everyone has forgiven him. In fact a pretty vocal minority have been pretty dead set against O’Neal’s entrance into the team’s Hall of Fame. The anger is definitely real. Very real.
And it is hard not to blame anyone for it. The scab should have healed by now. Even after O’Neal won three championships with the Lakers and another with that team in South Florida.
The past has not died. Nostalgia has not had a chance to set in. O’Neal has sometimes not let it.
The Magic and the fans have not forgotten their first star. Maybe that is what makes this whole process of forgiveness that much harder. He broke all our hearts first. And never went through the steps of becoming our friend again.
Sure, he has the same YouTube highlights that Penny and McGrady have to remind us of the good times. Yet he has not received the forgiveness those two have despite the same rude, cathartic booing returns to Orlando they both received. When they came back last year, they were cheered.
Why can’t Shaq get the same? Hasn’t enough time passed to forgive?
For some it has not. That is understandable. I was there too. I threw out every piece of Magic property I owned with the Nos. 32 or O’Neal written on them when he left. It was a traumatic experience (especially for a six year old). For many fans of that generation, it was a moment they would not forget. The emotions are still pretty prevalent.
And this is all part of Shaq’s legacy with the Magic. One we cannot forget. One no one can forget.
But no one can forget the good times either. The destroyed backboards, the playoff victories, the once-in-a-lifetime talent that graced our halls. It is that lost potential that we mourned, perhaps? Who is to say?
It is part of his complicated legacy with the Magic. It is not something fans should forget. And it is something that may lead some to give O’Neal another rousing booing when he is welcomed back to Orlando in a formal matter Friday night against the Pistons.
That should not preclude him from entering the team’s hall of fame.
A hall of fame is supposed to be about what the player accomplished on the floor. And there is no denying O’Neal has earned that.
These past few weeks have made O’Neal polarizing. It is important to remember the good times, but equally important not to forget the complicated history.
The moment Friday is about remembering the good times over the bad. That does not mean we should forget the bad.
Friday though is ripping off the Band-Aid. It is a way to recognize O’Neal for his service to the team and the good times he brought. And for those that do not want to forgive. Well, this is the last time he will be in Orlando for something formal like this. He is not getting his jersey retired and the team can probably not think up any higher honor for him.
His play has earned him this. His impact on the franchise has earned him this.
His complicated legacy is still up for debate. One that can continue long after Friday.