The trade of Chris Webber and Penny Hardaway in 1993 changed the course of their careers

Thirty-one years ago today, the 1993 NBA Draft took a turn that resulted in one player’s career being inducted into the Hall of Fame while another was slowed by injuries.

The Orlando Magic selected Chris Webber No. 1 because he had spent two years with the Michigan Fab Five. He was the clear first choice despite the infamous timeout called in the NCAA final against North Carolina a few months earlier.

Webber was considered the best player coming out of college with the chance to turn a team around, and the Magic, who had just reached a 41-41 record, paired him with Shaquille O’Neal.

Just a few minutes later, Webber was traded to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for number 3 pick Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway.

With all the hype and attention surrounding Webber, he was expected to be the next big star, but early in their careers, it was Hardaway who shone the brightest.

Together with O’Neal, he helped the Magic become one of the most popular teams in the league. In 1995, they even made it to the finals, where they lost to the Houston Rockets. Hardaway’s career was later interrupted by a series of knee injuries. Despite his early success, he is still waiting for an invitation to the Hall of Fame.

Webber won the Rookie of the Year title, was a five-time All-Star, and played a key role in the rivalry between the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Lakers in the late 1990s. Webber was never able to lead the Kings past the Los Angeles Lakers, featuring O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, but was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2021.

The question will always remain: What would have become of Hardaway without the injuries or how would Webber have played alongside O’Neal?

Zachary Draves is a staff writer for Back In The Day NBA. He can be reached at [email protected]

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