Magic Signs Hardaway for $65 Million-Plus : Pro basketball: The deal is the second-richest in pro team sports.

The Orlando Magic, who insisted they got the best player in the NBA draft with the No. 3 pick, backed up their claim Thursday night by signing Anfernee Hardaway to a contract worth more than $65 million.

The deal, believed to be for 13 years, is the second-richest in pro team sports behind the 12-year, $84-million agreement signed Tuesday by Larry Johnson of the Charlotte Hornets. The contract includes a substantial loan as well as a “performance out” clause that would allow the 6-foot-7 point guard to become a restricted free agent if certain statistical goals are achieved.

Before Hardaway could sign, though, NBA lawyers had to determine that the multiyear contract fit under the league’s salary cap. The announcement, originally scheduled for Thursday afternoon, was delayed several times while the Magic awaited word from the league office.

“I think in the last six hours I had seven nightmares,” Hardaway said. “I kept thinking we would get a call back and they would say you can’t do this or do that.”

Shaquille O’Neal, who signed a seven-year, $40-million contract as the top pick in the 1992 draft, will be paid just more than $3 million with the Magic this season. Hardaway will make about $1.2 million in base salary as a rookie.

“I haven’t looked at his contract, but I’m happy and he’s happy. Congratulations to him and his family,” said O’Neal, who developed a friendship with Hardaway this summer while the two were filming a movie in California.

“I’ve figured this out. Even though some guys are making more than others, we all have the same things. Call it the Shaq theory. We all have big houses, we all have nice suits, we all have nice cars. I’m happy. My family’s happy. That’s all that counts.”