<P> The Orlando Magic drafted O'Neal with the 1st overall pick in the 1992 NBA draft . 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 . Given Terry Catledge eventually refused to give O'Neal the 33 jersey, he relented by going back to the 32 from his high school days . O'Neal was named the Player of the Week in his first week in the NBA, becoming the first player to do so . During his rookie season, O'Neal averaged 23.4 points on 56.2% shooting, 13.9 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks per game for the season . He was named the 1993 NBA Rookie of the Year and became the first rookie to be voted an All - Star starter since Michael Jordan in 1985 . The Magic finished 41--41, winning 20 more games than the previous season; however, the team ultimately missed the playoffs by virtue of a tie - breaker with the Indiana Pacers . On more than one occasion during the year, Sports Illustrated writer Jack McCallum overheard O'Neal saying, "We've got to get (head coach) Matty (Guokas) out of here and bring in (assistant) Brian (Hill)." </P> <P> In 1993--1994, O'Neal's second season, Hill was the coach and Guokas was reassigned to the front office . O'Neal improved his scoring average to 29.4 points (second in the league to David Robinson) while leading the NBA in field goal percentage at 60% . On November 20, 1993, against the New Jersey Nets, O'Neal registered the first triple - double of his career, recording 24 points to go along with career highs of 28 rebounds and 15 blocks . He was voted into the All - Star game and also made the All - NBA 3rd Team . Teamed with newly drafted Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway, the Magic finished with a record of 50--32 and made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history . In his first playoff series, O'Neal averaged 20.7 points and 13.3 rebounds in a losing effort as the Magic lost every game to the Indiana Pacers . </P> <P> O'Neal's third season in 1994--95 had him leading the NBA in scoring with a 29.3 point average, while finishing second in MVP voting to David Robinson and entering his third straight All - Star Game along with Hardaway . They formed one of the league's top duos and helped Orlando to a 57--25 record and the Atlantic Division crown . The Magic won their first ever playoff series against the Boston Celtics in the 1995 NBA Playoffs . They then defeated the Chicago Bulls in the conference semifinals . After beating Reggie Miller's Indiana Pacers, the Magic reached the NBA Finals, facing the defending NBA champion Houston Rockets . O'Neal played well in his first Finals appearance, averaging 28 points on 59.5% shooting, 12.5 rebounds, and 6.3 assists . Despite this, the Rockets, led by future Hall - of - Famers Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler, swept the series in four games . </P> <P> O'Neal was injured for a great deal of the 1995--96 season, missing 28 games . He averaged 26.6 points and 11 rebounds per game, made the All - NBA 3rd Team, and played in his 4th All - Star Game . Despite O'Neal's injuries, the Magic finished with a regular season record of 60--22, second in the Eastern conference to the Chicago Bulls, who finished with an NBA record 72 wins . Orlando easily defeated the Detroit Pistons and the Atlanta Hawks in the first two rounds of the 1996 NBA Playoffs; however, they were no match for Jordan's Bulls, who swept them in the Eastern Conference Finals . </P>

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