The Magic Insider

Shaq Backboard Break at Meadowlands Celebrates 30-Year Anniversary

The Orlando Magic was put on the NBA map after Shaquille O'Neal famously dunked a ball so hard it broke the backboard.

Jeremy Brener

Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images
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The early years of the Orlando Magic are largely defined by Shaquille O'Neal and his one-of-a-kind style of play.

In particular, one play stands out and defines his legacy with the Magic.

On this day in 1993 in a game against the New Jersey Nets, Shaq dunked the ball so hard that it slammed the entire backboard out of its place and onto the ground.

The Magic went on to win the game 119-116, earning a then-franchise record 40th win. The next day, Orlando won its 41st game of the season, achieving the team's first .500 record in franchise history. Unfortunately for the Magic, Orlando lost the tiebreaker to the Indiana Pacers and missed the playoffs, but the team would get the last laugh.

The Magic's exclusion from the playoffs made the team eligible for the 1993 NBA Draft lottery, and Orlando won the No. 1 overall pick for a second year in a row. Ultimately, the Magic traded out of that position with the Golden State Warriors, who chose Michigan standout Chris Webber. Orlando didn't do too shabby either, selecting Memphis point guard Penny Hardaway, who teamed up with Shaq to help the Magic reach the NBA Finals just two years later.

At the end of the 1995-96 season, O'Neal left in free agency to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers, effectively ending the first "era" of Magic basketball.

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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