Remembering Pat Williams (1940-2024)
For more than a half century as an NBA executive, Pat Williams was a unique combination of energy, positivity and marketing wizardry. After serving as GM of the Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks, Williams spent 12 years as the general manager of the Philadelphia 76ers, engineering moves that resulted in an NBA title in 1983. But it is in Orlando that Williams made his most lasting mark on the league, co-founding the Magic franchise and serving as its first GM when the team entered the NBA in 1989. His luck was legendary, winning four Draft Lotteries during his career, including the one that ushered in the Shaquille O’Neal era. He would surround Shaq with a talented supporting cast and just three seasons later, the Magic reached the 1995 NBA Finals.
