Over two decades of NBA drafts later, the league is yet to come across someone like Shaquille O’Neal. The Hall of Famer, through his eventful and storied career, has left a mark like no one before in the league. Even in his retirement, the 4x NBA champion has captured the imagination of millions of basketball fans with his larger-than-life personality. However, his mellow and composed personality nowadays shouldn’t blind us to the devastating force of nature the Big Diesel was on the hardwood during his early years in the NBA. And this destructive nature once transmuted into his personal life amid a big mix-up during the 1993 NBA draft.

Among other things, 2022 saw the release of HBO’s much-awaited four-part docuseries SHAQ. The entertaining series has shed light on many obscure stories through the lens of O’Neal. Similarly, the Los Angeles Lakers legend addressed his violent episode during the 1993 NBA draft in the documentary. 

Enraged, Shaquille O’Neal resorted to violence during the 1993 NBA draft

Most rookies have little to no influence on how things are run in an NBA team. However, when an NBA franchise comes across talents like a young Shaquille O’Neal, they are obliged to make room for change. The Orlando Magic faced a similar fate in the 1993 NBA draft. 

The Magic drafted O’Neal out of LSU in the 1992 NBA draft. Unsurprisingly, the 7’1” center had an impressive rookie campaign, winning the Rookie of the Year next season. Amidst a promising future with O’Neal, the Magic also had the first pick in the 1993 NBA draft. However, their plans to draft the future Hall of Famer Chris Webber met with severe pushback from the Big Fella. Incidentally, in the offseason, O’Neal had set his eyes on Anfernee Hardaway. Consequently, he lobbied for the star point guard to be drafted, even threatening to leave the team otherwise. 

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However, come draft night, O’Neal was left in utter disbelief as David Stern announced the Magic’s pick, “With first pick in the NBA draft the Orlando Magic select Chris Webber.” Enraged, O’Neal didn’t hold back.  Incidentally, he broke a glass in his house. While recalling the incident in the first episode of SHAQ, the Lakers legend said, “I tear my back house up, break the glass.” 

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However, the only collateral damage from the Big Diesel’s rage that night was the glass, as the Magic traded away Webber’s rights to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Hardaway. And as they say, the rest is history.

O’Neal and Hardaway’s success in Orlando

Hardaway and O’Neal had an All-time run in Orlando. In the three seasons they played together, The Hall of Fame duo achieved success both in the regular season and the postseason. Moreover, they also made it to the NBA Finals in Hardaway’s second year by sweeping  Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. However, the duo ended up breaking apart after a major tiff, as O’Neal left the Magic in 1996 to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers.

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Where do you rank O’Neal and Hardaway among NBA All-time duos? Let us know in the comments below.