Longtime Magic exec Pat Williams retires
Jennifer Pottheiser / National Basketball Association / Getty
Orlando Magic senior vice president Pat Williams retired Tuesday after 51 years in the NBA, the team announced.
Williams was a co-founder of the Magic as an expansion team in 1987 and served as the general manager for close to 10 years following the club's inception. He drafted Shaquille O'Neal and made the draft-day trade for Penny Hardaway before being promoted to VP.
Prior to his time with the Magic, Williams was GM of the Philadelphia 76ers and Chicago Bulls, for whom he was credited with inventing mascot Benny the Bull.