The Best Orlando Magic Team of All Time

The Best Orlando Magic Team of All Time

The Orlando Magic joined the NBA in 1989 as an expansion team. Despite a roster that included Scott Skiles, Nick Anderson, Otis Smith, Reggie Theus, and Sam Vincent, the Magic only managed an 18-64 record in their inaugural season. Their struggles allowed them to select Dennis Scott with the 4th overall pick in the 1990 draft. However, Scott's addition didn't significantly improve the team's performance, as they won just 21 games the following year. Nevertheless, they would end up winning the lottery for the number one draft pick, which would completely change the team's fortune.

In 1992, Orlando drafted Shaquille O'Neal with the first overall pick. O'Neal immediately made an impact, as the Magic won 41 games in his rookie season. They missed the playoffs due to a tiebreaker, but it was clear that the fun was just beginning in Orlando. In the 1993 draft, the Orlando Magic acquired the rights to Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway. With the dynamic duo of O'Neal and Hardaway, the team became a legitimate force in the Eastern Conference. The team put together the franchise's first 50-win season but were swept by the underdog Indiana Pacers in the first round. The next year, Orlando signed Horace Grant, and the Magic compiled a 57-25 record. They quickly surpassed the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, and Indiana Pacers to become the second fastest NBA franchise to reach the Finals. However, they were swept by the Houston Rockets. The following season, they compiled a 60-22 record but fell to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals.

During the 1996 offseason, O'Neal left the Magic to join the Los Angeles Lakers, which dealt a significant blow to the organization. They still made the playoffs under the leadership of Hardaway and Darrell Armstrong but lost in the first round to the heavily favored Miami Heat. The Magic would make the playoffs a few more times in the late '90s but could never get past the first round.

In 2000, the team attempted to sign Tim Duncan, Grant Hill, and Tracy McGrady. Duncan opted to stay with the Spurs, but Hill and McGrady both agreed to sign with the Magic. Unfortunately, the McGrady and Hill duo proved to be a huge failure. Hill would go on to miss a large number of games, which placed too much pressure on McGrady to do it all himself. They still made the playoffs under McGrady's leadership but could never get past the first round until McGrady was traded in 2004.

Currently, the team has a core of Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson, and Hedo Turkoglu. They reached the Finals in 2008-09 but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in five games.

The greatest team in franchise history has to be the 1994-95 Orlando Magic team. They were the second fastest franchise in league history to reach the Finals, and the duo of Shaquille O'Neal and Hardaway was truly something special to watch.

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