1992–93 Orlando Magic season

The 1992–93 NBA season was the Magic's fourth season in the National Basketball Association.^[1] This season held a lot of promise as LSU center Shaquille O'Neal was drafted first overall by the Magic in the 1992 NBA draft.^{[2][3][4][5][6]} Meanwhile, the Magic signed free agent Donald Royal during the off-season.^[7] There were predictions that O'Neal would become the next dominant center in the NBA.^[8][9] Shaq became an instant superstar with merchandising that rivaled only Michael Jordan.

1992–93 Orlando Magic season
Head coach	Matt Guokas
Arena	Orlando Arena
Results
Record	41–41 (.500)
Place	Division: 4th (Atlantic) Conference: 9th (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	WKCF Sunshine Network
Radio	WDBO
< 1991–92 1993–94 >

The Magic started to show improvement winning eight of their first eleven games, but then lost six straight afterwards in December, as the team acquired Steve Kerr from the Cleveland Cavaliers.^[10][11] The Magic continued to play .500 basketball with a 24–23 record at the All-Star break.^[12] However, the team had various problems with injuries as Dennis Scott only played 54 games due to calf and Achilles injuries,^[13][14] and second-year center Brian Williams missed most of the season due to clinical depression, including a suicide attempt, only playing just 21 games.^[15][16] The Magic finished fourth in the Atlantic Division with a 41–41 record,^[17] and lost a tie-breaker for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference to the 8th-seeded Indiana Pacers.^[18][19]

O'Neal averaged 23.4 points, 13.9 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game as he was named Rookie of the Year.^[20][21][22] He was also named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, was selected for the 1993 NBA All-Star Game, which was his first All-Star appearance,^[23][24][25] and also finished in seventh place in Most Valuable Player voting.^[26][27] In addition, Nick Anderson finished second on the team in scoring averaging 19.9 points, and contributed 6.0 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game, while Scott averaged 15.9 points per game, 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.^[28]

Following the season, Kerr signed as a free agent with the Chicago Bulls,^[29] while Willliams was traded to the Denver Nuggets,^[30] head coach Matt Guokas was fired, and Terry Catledge retired.

Draft picks

Main article: 1992 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	School/Club Team
1	1	Shaquille O'Neal	C	United States	LSU

Roster

1992–93 Orlando Magic roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY-MM-DD) From SG 25 Anderson, Nick 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1968–01–20 Illinois SG 14 Bowie, Anthony 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1963–11–09 Oklahoma PF 33 Catledge, Terry 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1963–08–22 South Alabama PG 11 Green, Litterial 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1970–03–07 Georgia PG 2 Kerr, Steve 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1965–09–27 Arizona C 34 Kite, Greg 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1961–08–05 BYU C 32 O'Neal, Shaquille 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 300 lb (136 kg) 1972–03–06 LSU SF 5 Royal, Donald 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1966–05–22 Notre Dame SF 3 Scott, Dennis 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 229 lb (104 kg) 1968–09–05 Georgia Tech PG 4 Skiles, Scott 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1964–03–05 Michigan State SF 40 Tolbert, Tom 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1965–10–16 Arizona PF 31 Turner, Jeff 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1962–04–09 Vanderbilt PF 8 Williams, Brian 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 260 lb (118 kg) 1969–04–06 Arizona PF 42 Wright, Howard 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1967–12–20 Stanford

Head coach Matt Guokas Assistant coach(es) Brian Hill Legend (C) Team captain (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended   Injured Roster Last transaction: April 8, 1993

Regular season

Shaquille O'Neal was drafted as the 1st overall pick in the 1992 NBA draft by the Orlando Magic. During that summer, prior to moving to Orlando, he spent a significant amount of time in Los Angeles under the tutelage of Hall of Famer Magic Johnson. O'Neal had an exceptional rookie season, as he helped the Magic win 20 more games than the previous season, with the team ultimately missing the playoffs by virtue of a tie-breaker with the Indiana Pacers. O'Neal averaged 23.4 points and 13.9 rebounds per game for the season and was named the 1993 NBA Rookie of the Year. O'Neal played in the All-Star game and scored 14 points. On two occasions during that season, each during a nationally televised game, O'Neal dunked the ball so hard that he broke the backboard support units.^{[citation needed]}

Season standings

Atlantic Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-New York Knicks	60	22	.732	—	37–4	23–18	23–5
x-Boston Celtics	48	34	.585	12	28–13	20–21	19–9
x-New Jersey Nets	43	39	.524	17	26–15	17–24	14–14
Orlando Magic	41	41	.500	19	27–14	14–27	15–13
Miami Heat	36	46	.439	24	26–15	10–31	9–19
Philadelphia 76ers	26	56	.317	34	15–26	11–30	11–17
Washington Bullets	22	60	.268	38	15–26	7–34	7–21

y – clinched division title

x – clinched playoff spot

#	Eastern Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	c-New York Knicks	60	22	.732	–
2	y-Chicago Bulls	57	25	.695	3
3	x-Cleveland Cavaliers	54	28	.659	6
4	x-Boston Celtics	48	34	.585	12
5	x-Charlotte Hornets	44	38	.537	16
6	x-New Jersey Nets	43	39	.524	17
7	x-Atlanta Hawks	43	39	.524	17
8	x-Indiana Pacers	41	41	.500	19
9	Orlando Magic	41	41	.500	19
10	Detroit Pistons	40	42	.488	20
11	Miami Heat	36	46	.439	24
12	Milwaukee Bucks	28	54	.341	32
13	Philadelphia 76ers	26	56	.317	36
14	Washington Bullets	22	60	.268	38

z – clinched division title

y – clinched division title

x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1992–93 NBA records
Team	ATL	BOS	CHA	CHI	CLE	DAL	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	LAC	LAL	MIA	MIL	MIN	NJN	NYK	ORL	PHI	PHO	POR	SAC	SAS	SEA	UTA	WAS
Atlanta	–	2–2	3–2	2–2	0–5	1–1	2–0	2–3	2–0	1–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	3–1	3–2	2–0	1–3	2–2	1–3	3–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–2
Boston	2–2	–	3–1	1–3	3–1	2–0	2–0	1–3	2–0	1–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–2	2–0	4–0	1–4	3–2	4–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	4–1
Charlotte	2–3	1–3	–	2–3	1–3	2–0	1–1	4–1	2–0	0–2	0–5	1–1	1–1	2–2	3–1	2–0	2–2	1–3	3–1	4–0	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–0
Chicago	2–2	3–1	3–2	–	2–3	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	0–2	5–0	2–0	0–2	3–1	4–1	2–0	4–0	1–3	3–1	2–2	1–1	2–0	2–0	0–2	2–0	2–0	4–0
Cleveland	5–0	1–3	3–1	3–2	–	2–0	1–1	3–2	2–0	1–1	4–0	1–1	2–0	2–2	4–1	2–0	2–2	1–3	2–2	4–0	2–0	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–1
Dallas	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	–	1–5	1–1	0–4	1–4	1–1	0–4	1–3	0–2	0–2	1–4	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–4	0–4	0–4	0–5	1–3	0–5	1–1
Denver	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	5–1	–	1–1	3–1	2–3	1–1	2–2	1–3	0–2	1–1	3–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–3	1–3	3–1	1–4	1–3	2–3	2–0
Detroit	3–2	3–1	1–4	1–3	2–3	1–1	1–1	–	0–2	1–1	3–2	1–1	1–1	1–3	2–2	1–1	3–1	2–2	3–1	3–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	0–2	0–2	0–2	4–0
Golden State	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	4–0	1–3	2–0	–	2–2	0–2	2–3	1–4	2–0	1–1	3–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–4	0–5	4–1	3–1	1–4	3–1	1–1
Houston	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	4–1	3–2	1–1	2–2	–	2–0	4–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	4–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	1–3	4–0	4–1	1–3	4–1	1–1
Indiana	2–2	2–2	5–0	0–5	0–4	1–1	1–1	2–3	2–0	0–2	–	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–3	1–1	3–1	1–3	2–2	3–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	0–2	3–1
L.A. Clippers	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	4–0	2–2	1–1	3–2	0–4	1–1	–	3–2	0–2	2–0	4–0	0–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	3–2	2–3	3–2	0–4	1–4	2–2	2–0
L.A. Lakers	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	3–1	3–1	1–1	4–1	1–3	1–1	2–3	–	0–2	1–1	3–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–0	0–5	3–2	3–2	2–2	1–4	1–3	2–0
Miami	1–3	1–3	2–2	1–3	2–2	2–0	2–0	3–1	0–2	0–2	2–2	2–0	2–0	–	2–2	2–0	2–3	0–5	3–2	1–3	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	2–3
Milwaukee	2–3	2–2	1–3	1–4	1–4	2–0	1–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	3–2	0–2	1–1	2–2	–	1–1	0–4	1–3	2–2	2–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–3
Minnesota	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	4–1	2–3	1–1	1–3	2–4	1–1	0–4	1–3	0–2	1–1	–	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–4	1–3	1–3	1–4	0–4	1–4	1–1
New Jersey	3–1	0–4	2–2	0–4	2–2	2–0	1–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–3	2–0	2–0	3–2	4–0	1–1	–	1–3	3–2	3–2	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–1
New York	2–2	4–1	3–1	3–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	2–2	2–0	1–1	3–1	0–2	2–0	5–0	3–1	2–0	3–1	–	2–2	5–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	4–1
Orlando	3–1	2–3	1–3	1–3	2–2	1–1	2–0	1–3	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	2–3	2–2	2–0	2–3	2–2	–	3–2	0–2	2–0	2–0	0–2	0–2	1–1	4–0
Philadelphia	1–3	1–4	0–4	2–2	0–4	1–1	1–1	1–3	1–1	0–2	1–3	1–1	0–2	3–1	2–2	2–0	2–3	0–5	2–3	–	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	3–1
Phoenix	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	0–2	4–0	3–1	2–0	4–1	2–2	1–1	2–3	5–0	2–0	2–0	4–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	–	3–2	5–0	3–1	2–3	3–1	2–0
Portland	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	2–0	4–0	3–1	1–1	5–0	3–1	1–1	3–2	2–3	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–3	–	5–0	2–2	2–3	2–2	1–1
Sacramento	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	4–0	1–3	0–2	1–4	0–4	0–2	2–3	2–3	1–1	1–1	3–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–5	0–5	–	2–2	1–4	2–2	1–1
San Antonio	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	5–0	4–1	2–0	1–3	1–4	1–1	4–0	2–2	1–1	2–0	4–1	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	1–3	2–2	2–2	–	3–1	3–3	1–1
Seattle	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–1	3–1	2–0	4–1	3–1	0–2	4–1	4–1	1–1	2–0	4–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	3–2	3–2	4–1	1–3	–	2–2	2–0
Utah	0–2	2–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	5–0	3–2	2–0	1–3	1–4	2–0	2–2	3–1	2–0	2–0	4–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–3	2–2	2–2	3–3	2–2	–	1–1
Washington	2–2	1–4	0–4	0–4	1–3	1–1	0–2	0–4	1–1	1–1	1–3	0–2	0–2	3–2	3–1	1–1	1–4	1–4	0–4	1–3	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	—

Game log

Player statistics

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field-goal percentage	3P%	3-point field-goal percentage	FT%	Free-throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game

NOTE: Please write the players statistics in alphabetical order by last name.

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG

Awards and honors

• Shaquille O'Neal – NBA Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie 1st Team, All-Star

Transactions

References

1. 1992-93 Orlando Magic
2. Araton, Harvey (June 25, 1992). "BASKETBALL; Draft Sticks to Program Until the 5th Pick, That Is". The New York Times. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
3. "After Big Men Go First, Locals Go in First Round: NBA Draft: Miner Goes to Heat at No. 12. Lakers Take Peeler. Clippers Select: La Salle's Woods with Their First Pick". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. June 25, 1992. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
4. Aldridge, David (June 25, 1992). "O'Neal, Mourning 1-2". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
5. "1992 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
6. Povtak, Tim (August 7, 1992). "Done Deal: Shaq Signing Today". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
7. Cooper, Barry (July 19, 1992). "Magic May Restructure Deals to Sign O'Neal". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
8. Moran, Malcolm (May 18, 1992). "The Top Pick Is Going to Disney World". The New York Times.
9. Cooper, Barry (September 21, 1992). "Shaq Wows Fans in Magic's Game". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
10. "Magic Trades Draft Pick for Cavaliers Guard Kerr". Tampa Bay Times. December 4, 1992. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
11. "Cavs Trade Kerr to Orlando". United Press International. December 3, 1992. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
12. "NBA Games Played on February 18, 1993". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
13. "Scott Out 10 Days". United Press International. February 8, 1993. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
14. Povtak, Tim (March 18, 1993). "Headliners". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
15. Cotton, Anthony (December 3, 1992). "Not All Fun, Games for Rodman, Brian Williams". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
16. Sentinel, Orlando (November 27, 1992). "Magic Forward Says He Tried Suicide". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
17. "1992–93 Orlando Magic Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
18. "PRO BASKETBALL; Pacers Wheel In, Keep Both Magic and Pistons Out". The New York Times. Associated Press. April 25, 1993. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
19. "NBA ROUNDUP: Pacers Edge Out Magic for Last Berth". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. April 25, 1993. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
20. "O'Neal Shatters Rookie Vote". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 7, 1993. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
21. "O'Neal Wins NBA Rookie of the Year". United Press International. May 6, 1993. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
22. "NBA & ABA Rookie of the Year Award Winners". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
23. Sorensen, Mike (February 19, 1993). "Life at the Top of the NBA Has Put Jordan Under Considerable Scrutiny". Deseret News. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
24. Freeman, Mike (February 22, 1993). "PRO BASKETBALL; The West Prevails in Serious Showdown". The New York Times. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
25. "1993 NBA All-Star Game: West 135, East 132 (OT)". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
26. "1992–93 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
27. Orlando Magic (1989-Present)
28. "1992–93 Orlando Magic Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
29. "4 Players Added to Bulls' Roster". Chicago Tribune. September 30, 1993. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
30. "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Nuggets-Magic Trade". The New York Times. August 20, 1993. Retrieved January 15, 2022.

• Orlando Magic on Basketball Reference