Orlando Magic

Lore & Background

The Magic were created after Orlando businessman Jim L. Hewitt approached Pat Williams in September 1985. The franchise name was chosen from a contest, with 'Magic' selected on July 27, 1986, alluding to Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom. The Magic were one of four expansion franchises awarded in 1987, along with the Charlotte Hornets, Miami Heat, and Minnesota Timberwolves. The team's first game was an exhibition win against the Detroit Pistons on October 13, 1989. Their first regular-season game was a loss to the New Jersey Nets on November 4, 1989, and their first victory came two days later against the New York Knicks. The inaugural team finished 18–64. In 1992, the Magic won the first pick in the draft lottery and selected Shaquille O'Neal. In 1993, they again won the first pick, selected Chris Webber, then traded him for Penny Hardaway and future picks. The O'Neal–Hardaway duo led the Magic to a 50–32 record in 1993–94, but they were swept 3–0 by the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the playoffs. In 1994–95, the Magic compiled a 57–25 record, won the Atlantic Division, and advanced to the NBA Finals, where they were swept by the Houston Rockets. In 1995–96, they went 60–22 but were swept in the Eastern Conference Finals by the Chicago Bulls.

In Their Own Story

The arena in Orlando smells like popcorn and floor wax. You can hear the crowd before you see them—a low, humid roar that rolls in from the upper deck where the Florida sun still lingers past six p.m. You are in the second row, left side, and the Magic's center is posting up your big man for the third time in a minute. He turns, drops the shoulder, and the rim shudders. The Pacers bench is silent. Reggie is on the bench, ice on his ankle, watching. You grip the back of the seat in front of you. The next possession, the Magic's guard hits a three from the wing, and the crowd detonates. You close your eyes. You do not want to see the scoreboard. You already know what it says.

Reader's Guide

The Magic's early success was built around Shaquille O'Neal (drafted 1992) and Penny Hardaway (acquired 1993). The team's first playoff appearance came in 1994, where they were swept by the Pacers. The franchise reached the NBA Finals in 1995 and 2009. Key early players included Nick Anderson, Scott Skiles, Dennis Scott, and Horace Grant. The team was purchased by the DeVos family in 1991.

Did You Know?

• The Magic's name was chosen from a contest; 11 people submitted the name 'Magic'.
• Scott Skiles set an NBA single-game assists record of 30 on December 30, 1990.
• The Magic won the first pick in the NBA draft lottery in both 1992 and 1993.
• The Magic were swept 3–0 by the Indiana Pacers in their first playoff appearance in 1994.