Atlanta Hawks’ Shocking Rise in Draft Lottery Highlights Orlando Magic History

ORLANDO — The NBA Lottery results are in and the Orlando Magic have kept a firm grip on draft history for another season.

Last night, the Atlanta Hawks sent shockwaves through the NBA world, defying all odds to secure the No. 1 pick after entering with just a three percent chance. Yet the Magic’s 1993 draft remains the most unexpected, when the team landed the top spot despite only a 1.5 percent chance.

While Orlando currently hangs only one jersey in its rafters, that of 1992 No. 1 pick Shaquille O’Neal, the 1993 draft was arguably just as important to the legacy of the Magic franchise.

With the No. 1 pick in the 1993 NBA Draft, the Orlando Magic would select Chris Webber, who would go on to win Rookie of the Year, making him the second straight winner drafted by Orlando.

However, the six-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA team member never suited up for the Magic during his 15-year NBA career. Instead, this draft is iconic for Orlando because of the man the team traded him for a few picks after selecting him, Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway.

Penny would be traded to the Magic after Shaq lured Orlando into doing so based on workouts he had with Hardaway while filming a movie. Trading Webber for Penny and three additional first-round picks proved to be the right decision.

Shaq and Penny would almost instantly establish themselves as the best young duo in the entire league.

Hardaway would finish second in Rookie of the Year voting and immediately establish himself as an NBA star. After his rookie season, Hardaway would make five consecutive All-Star appearances and make the All-NBA first team in just his second season (following that with two more consecutive All-NBA seasons) while playing for Orlando.

Unfortunately, the dynamic duo would be short-lived, as money and ego would eventually cause the two to part ways, although Hardaway and O’Neal took the Magic to the NBA Finals in their second season together. Despite selecting two players who would finish in the top three in MVP voting before turning 25, Orlando would fail to win a championship. Nonetheless, the magic that took place when the team won the 1993 lottery remains unmatched.

What Atlanta ultimately does with its No. 1 picks remains to be seen, but the Hawks can only hope to select a player as successful and electrifying as Webber and Hardaway have proven.

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