Shaq's No. 34 Jersey to be Retired by Lakers

Shaq holds up the MVP trophy and the NBA championship trophy on June 15, 2001 (AP Photo)

Shaquille O'Neal's number 34 will eventually be the eighth number retired by the Lakers, according to team spokesman John Black.

"We don't have any specific timetable on this, but you can be assured we will retire Shaq's jersey," Black told ESPN via email. "At this point in time I'd guess there's a really good chance that Kobe will still be playing in five years, and by that time Shaq will be elected to the HOF and we will have retired his jersey."

Whenever that day comes, O'Neal's number 34 jersey will hang from the rafters at Staples Center alongside those of Jerry West (44), Wilt Chamberlain (13), Elgin Baylor (22), Gail Goodrich (25), Magic Johnson (32), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33), and James Worthy (42) -- never to be worn again.

O'Neal announced his retirement on Wednesday via Twitter after 19 years in the NBA, including 8 seasons with the Lakers yielding 3 championships. "I'm about to retire," Shaq told fans in this video. The LA Times reflects on his legacy as a Laker.