The NBA features some of the most skilled athletes in the sporting world today.
As the standard of drafted players increases each season, so does the expectation of their performance both on and off the court. If you’re interested in finding out more about how teams are currently performing, check out NBA spreads.
For that reason, several teams stand out — but none more so than the Orlando Magic.
It seems like no other NBA team has seen quite as many dominant players or head coach changes as the Orlando Magic. But there’s a lot more to this team than meets the eye.
Who Are They?
The Orlando Magic is an NBA team based in Orlando. They play all home games in the Amway Center.
The team competes in the NBA as a core member of the Eastern Conference Southeast Division of the league.
In 1985, two men named Jim L. Hewitt (a businessman) and Pat Williams (76ers general manager) began considering bringing an NBA team to Orlando. Only a year later things were in motion, and the “Magic” name was born.
But it wasn’t until 1989 that the expansion franchise was finally established.
An Overview of the Franchise
1989
In June of their debut year, the Magic went on to select Nick Anderson (Illinois) to become the first draft pick of the franchise during the first round of the 1989 NBA Draft.
In November of that same year, the Magic played their first season game at the Orlando Arena (O-Rena). They lost the first game but won the second against the New York Knicks.
(Side Note: The franchise was purchased by the DeVos family in 1991 for an eye-watering $85 million!)
The 1990s
This was the decade that saw the biggest franchise shift.
Generally, the start of the 1990s (‘91-92) was a little bit rough for the team as they had a disappointing 17-game losing streak. Despite these not-so-great numbers, the team managed to sell out all 41 of its home games, showing fan interest in the franchise.
Magic history changed for the better in May 1992 when the franchise won the Draft lottery with Shaquille O’Neal. He played incredibly well and took the team to new heights, claiming victory in 20 games and becoming the NBA’s most improved franchise (again).
This sort of success was emphasized by the drafting of guard Anfernee Hardaway in 1993.
Together, with Hardaway and O’Neal taking the lead, the Magic became more focused and driven. As a result, they changed their perception of playing to become one of the NBA’s most dominant teams — even achieving their first 50-win season.
A brilliantly played 1995 season saw the Magic reach the Playoffs and very nearly clinch the championship title for the first time. However, they were ultimately defeated 4-0 by the Chicago Bulls.
If that wasn’t enough of a blow, O’Neal left the Magic as a free agent for the Los Angeles Lakers in 1996, which was a devastating move that marked a long, winding road to redemption. This was to be led by Hardaway.
By 1999, the team began to see significant improvements in their playing and overall cohesiveness. The introduction of rookie coach Doc Rivers to the franchise saw the Magic reach a 41–41 record, fractionally missing out on the playoffs.
The Early 2000s
2003 – 2008
The Magic’s 15th season in 2003–04 proved to be one of its toughest ever, setting a franchise record by losing 19 consecutive games. This disappointment continued in the 2006 season which saw many injuries and also sporadic plays from young Magic stars.
However, the Magic built confidence and momentum culminating in a much-needed push to the Playoffs.
After adopting this attitude, they also saw a strong start to the 2007-08 season, going on to clinch the Southeast Division title. As great as this was, they still weren’t performing to the expected standards. It wasn’t until 2009 that things truly began to change!
2009 NBA Finals
The Magic made it to the NBA Finals in 2009 after nearly 14 years. After dropping the first two games in the 2009 Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers, the Magic managed to win their first-ever game in the NBA Finals (Game 3.) However, they lost the overall win to the Lakers.
They ended the 2009-10 season with the second-best record in the Eastern Conference and also the second-best record in the entire league!
2010 – Present
The Orlando Magic had a lot of noteworthy play during the 2018-19 season which saw them win their sixth-ever division title. They also finished in seventh place in the Eastern Conference.
As of 2021, the franchise has played in 16 NBA playoffs across 32 seasons and has been to the NBA Finals twice (1995 and 2009).
What’s Next?
The 2021-22 Orlando Magic season was, quite literally, magic. Players made strides in terms of quick, effective offense and hard-nosed defense while also celebrating one another’s successes.
Rookies Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner blended seamlessly with existing Magic players and proved to be true cornerstones of the Magic success.
With everything considered, Orlando Magic is set to do amazing things over the next few seasons!