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Orlando Magic sharpshooter Dennis Scott is heading to the franchise's Hall of Fame. The news surfaced recently, with the one and only Shaquille O'Neal congratulating his former teammate on the monumental achievement.
As the 12th member of the Orlando Magic to reach the Hall of Fame, the occasion marks a big day for both Scott and the franchise. On "NBA on TNT," O'Neal and the broadcast team honored Scott, who has been a staple of the network's NBA coverage.
As a former teammate and colleague, O'Neal spoke first about what Scott means to him and has done for him throughout his professional career:
"D. Scott, first of all, congratulations. You know how much you mean to me. I remember when you picked me up from the Airport Hilton. You taught me how to be professional. You taught me how to play the game. You taught me how to dominate. You taught me everything I know of what it is to be a professional athlete.
"I appreciate you for that. Congratulations. You also kept it comin' to me, then I kicked it back to you. We trusted each other. Best shooter in Orlando Magic history. Just wanna say, it's about time, Orlando Magic. D. Scott should have been first, 'cuz I remember you helped build that franchise."
O'Neal credited Scott with being one of the most important members in the history of the organization. At the same time, O'Neal also did something rather uncharacteristic. He gave Dwight Howard credit, putting his name alongside some of the biggest players in Magic history.
You can view his comments in the video below.
Candace Parker gives Dennis Scott his flowers
Shaquille O'Neal wasn't the only one giving Dennis Scott his flowers on the TNT broadcast. WNBA legend and TNT's own Candace Parker also spoke about Scott's impact on the game and her time with the network:
"3D, first, congratulations! Obviously, super well-deserved. I never played with you in Orlando, and I haven't been your teammate on the basketball court, but being your teammate in television off the court, has showed me how you always uplift your teammates.
"You always support, you always cheer for, root for, you always bring the fun in every single studio that we're in. And your love for the game is infectious. You absolutely love basketball, and it shows."
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Dennis Scott's career with the Orlando Magic
Dennis Scott is one of the most prolific shooters in league history. As a rookie, he set a record with 267 3-pointers in a single season, a record that stood for a decade. During the team's NBA Finals run in 1995, Scott averaged a career-high 14.7 points per game in the playoffs.
His "3-D" nickname stood for more than just his 3-point shooting ability, however. It also was an homage to Dennis Scott's defensive abilities. In five of his first seven years in the NBA, Scott averaged more than 1.0 steals per game.
Outside of the NBA, Scott found success with Team USA, winning a gold medal in the 1994 FIBA World Cup.
After retiring from the league, he transitioned into a role with TNT, where he has become a staple of the network's NBA programming.
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