Heat to retire Shaq's No. 32 jersey next season

Think of it this way: If Shaquille O'Neal never feuded with Kobe Bryant or Los Angeles Lakers' management, his tenure with the Miami Heat never would have happened.

It did however, and O'Neal became a crucial part of the Heat's first-ever NBA championship in 2005-06. The team announced Tuesday that it will retire Shaq's No. 32 in a ceremony at the beginning of next season. O'Neal will join the two other players honored by the Miami organization, Alonzo Mourning and Tim Hardaway.

O'Neal was acquired by the Heat in the summer of 2004 in exchange for Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, Brian Grant, and two draft picks. The relationship between Shaq and Kobe had reached a boiling point, and O'Neal also clashed with Lakers' owner Jerry Buss and general manager MItch Kupchak over a contract extension.

Shaq would play three-and-a-half seasons with the Heat, finishing second in MVP voting in 2005, and helping lead them to a title the following season. In 205 regular-season games with Miami, he averaged 19.6 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks. He remains the franchise's all-time leader in field-goal percentage (.596).