1993–94 Orlando Magic season

The 1993–94 NBA season was the fifth season for the Orlando Magic in the National Basketball Association. Despite narrowly missing the playoffs with a 41–41 record the previous season, the Magic received unexpected good fortune by winning the NBA draft lottery for the second consecutive year, despite having the worst odds. In the 1993 NBA draft, the Magic selected power forward Chris Webber from the University of Michigan with the first overall pick, but soon traded him to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for shooting guard Penny Hardaway from the University of Memphis, and three future first-round draft picks. The team also hired assistant Brian Hill as their new head coach.

With the addition of Hardaway, the Magic continued to improve holding a 27–20 record at the All-Star break, while posting a 7-game winning streak in February. At mid-season, the team signed assistant coach Tree Rollins to a player contract, and acquired second-year forward Anthony Avent from the Milwaukee Bucks. The Magic qualified for their first ever NBA playoff appearance in franchise history, as the team finished in second place in the Atlantic Division with a solid 50–32 record, and earned the #4 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Shaquille O'Neal averaged 29.3 points, 13.2 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, while Hardaway had a stellar rookie season, averaging 16.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 2.3 steals per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. In addition, Nick Anderson provided the team with 15.8 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game, along with 101 three-point field goals, while three-point specialist Dennis Scott contributed 12.8 points per game, and led the Magic with 155 three-point field goals, and Scott Skiles provided with 9.9 points and 6.1 assists per game. Meanwhile, Donald Royal contributed 7.4 points per game off the bench, and Jeff Turner averaged 6.6 points and 4.0 rebounds per game.

During the NBA All-Star weekend in Minneapolis, Minnesota, O'Neal was selected for the 1994 NBA All-Star Game, and Hardaway won the Most Valuable Player award in the inaugural NBA Rookie Game. O'Neal also finished in fourth place in Most Valuable Player voting, and Hardaway finished in second place in Rookie of the Year voting behind Webber.

However, in the Eastern Conference First Round of the 1994 NBA playoffs, the Magic were swept by the 5th-seeded Indiana Pacers in three straight games; this was also O'Neal's first ever playoff appearance. Following the season, Skiles was traded to the Washington Bullets.