1992–93 Orlando Magic season

The 1992–93 Orlando Magic season was the fourth season for the Orlando Magic in the National Basketball Association.^[1] This season was most memorable when the Magic won the NBA draft lottery,^[2] and selected 7' 1" center Shaquille O'Neal out of Louisiana State University with the first overall pick in the 1992 NBA draft.^[3][4][5] During the off-season, the team signed free agent Donald Royal,^[6][7] and later on signed Tom Tolbert in November. There were predictions that O'Neal would become the next dominant center in the NBA;^[8][9] O'Neal became an instant superstar with merchandising that rivaled only All-Star guard Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls.

With the addition of O'Neal and Royal, the Magic got off to a fast start by winning eight of their first eleven games of the regular season, but then posted a six-game losing streak in December afterwards. Also in December, the team traded their future second-round draft pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Steve Kerr.^[10][11][12] The Magic continued to play around .500 in winning percentage, holding a 24–23 record at the All-Star break.^[13] However, the team soon fell below .500 by posting a five-game losing streak in March. The Magic dealt with injuries, as three-point specialist Dennis Scott only played 54 games due to calf and Achilles injuries,^[14][15][16] and second-year center Brian Williams missed most of the season due to clinical depression, including a suicide attempt, only playing just 21 games.^[17][18][19]

The Magic managed to win eight of their final twelve games of the season, including two straight victories to close the season. In the final game of the regular season on April 24, 1993, the team defeated the Atlanta Hawks at home, 104–85 at the Orlando Arena;^[20] the Magic finished in fourth place in the Atlantic Division with a 41–41 record, which was a 20-game improvement over the previous season.^[21][22] However, the Magic lost a tie-breaker for the final NBA playoff spot in the Eastern Conference to the 8th–seeded Indiana Pacers, who finished with the same record; the Magic and Pacers were 2–2 against each other during the regular season, but the Pacers outscored the Magic, 444–439.^[23][24][25]

O'Neal averaged 23.4 points, 13.9 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game, as he was named the NBA Rookie of the Year, receiving 96 out of 98 first-place votes from the media, and was also named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.^[26][27][28] In addition, Nick Anderson averaged 19.9 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game, while Scott averaged 15.9 points per game and led the Magic with 108 three-point field goals, Scott Skiles provided the team with 15.4 points and 9.7 assists per game, and Royal contributed 9.2 points per game off the bench. Meanwhile, Tolbert averaged 8.1 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, Anthony Bowie contributed 8.0 points per game, and Jeff Turner provided with 7.0 points per game.^[29]

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, O'Neal was selected for the 1993 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Eastern Conference All-Star team; it was his first ever All-Star appearance.^[30][31][32] O'Neal also finished in seventh place in Most Valuable Player voting.^[33][34] The Magic finished 14th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 621,191 at the Orlando Arena during the regular season.^[29][35]

Following the season, Kerr signed as a free agent with the Chicago Bulls,^[36][37] while Williams was traded to the Denver Nuggets,^[38][39] head coach Matt Guokas resigned after coaching the Magic for four seasons,^[40][41][42] Tolbert was released to free agency, and Terry Catledge retired.