Orlando Magic: 5 players who’ve got next for the Basketball Hall of Fame

Orlando Magic: Next up for the Hall of Fame

Pat Williams

The Basketball Hall of Fame also has a contributor wing meant for figures who have a deep impact on the game. Among the members inducted as contributors include Jerry Colangelo, David Stern and the other former commissioners. These are usually for the elite people who helped shape basketball even if they never stepped foot on the court.

For the Magic, there are few people who had a bigger impact than Pat Williams.

Williams is the one who took the leap of faith on a small town in Central Florida that still had not come into its own. He sold them on the idea of a professional sports team, delivered on the enthusiasm and built a city-wide pillar that has only helped the city grow.

That kind of leap of faith is incredible. There are probably few figures who singlehandedly dropped a franchise into an emerging town with such enthusiasm and ardor.

It was not just his time with the Magic either. He was an executive for three other teams before settling in Orlando. He was the executive for the Philadelphia 76ers from 1974-86 that included four trips to the NBA Finals and one NBA championship.

Williams may not have had the global impact on the sport itself, but he is indelibly written in basketball’s history. And he at least should have an argument or a case in front of the Hall of Fame committee to gain entrance and have his moment.

In the end, his global impact on the game is probably not large enough to get into the hall in Springfield. But Williams has undoubtedly made a huge impact with the Magic. And founding a franchise is certainly something extremely impactful.