Ever since the Orlando Magic became an official NBA Franchise back in 1989, the team has had its fair share of highs and lows. While Orlando has made the playoffs 16 times in 31 seasons, including two Eastern Conference titles (1995 and 2009), the Magic have gone through all-time struggles as well. Since the 2012-2013 season, Orlando has failed to make the playoffs in seven of the past nine years, and haven’t advanced past the first round since the 2009-2010 season. Orlando also decided to break up their reliable core of Nikola Vucevic, Evan Fournier, and Aaron Gordon at the trade deadline, further cementing the team as one of the NBA’s worst. While living in your past isn’t something most people should do, let’s take a minute to remember the four most dominant players on the Magic that ultimately make up Orlando’s Mount Rushmore.
Dwight Howard, C, 2004-2012
Even after Howard’s relationship went sour with former Head Coach Stan Van Gundy and General Manager Rob Hennigan, Howard still made the most of his time in Orlando. In Howard’s 621 career games with Orlando, he averaged 18.4 PPG, 13.0 RPG, and 2.2 BPG while shooting 57.7% from the field. Despite this, Howard’s accolades may be even more impressive than his career averages. During his nine years with Orlando, Howard notched six appearances on the All-Star and All-NBA teams, along with five on the All-Defensive Teams. Howard’s defensive play can’t be understated enough, as he was the NBA’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year for three straight seasons (2008-2011). Howard also led the NBA in total rebounds for six years, and blocks for two seasons.
Penny Hardaway, PG, 1993-1999
Penny Hardaway’s playing career with the Magic is enough for him to make it on their Mount Rushmore. Hardaway had a monumental impact in Orlando, averaging 19.0 PPG, 4.7 RPG, and 6.3 APG. Hardaway also had his fair shares of career awards, earning four All-Star appearances and three All-NBA team appearances. In addition to this, Hardaway was named to the 1993-1994 All-Rookie team. Hardaway was also one of the Magic’s most loyal superstars to date, playing a total of 369 games over his nine years in Orlando. Hardaway and his loyalty ended up paying off, as he and Shaquille O’Neal led Orlando to their first NBA Finals appearance in 1995. If that wasn’t enough, Hardaway was officially inducted into the Magic’s Hall of Fame in 2017, further cementing his case.
Shaquille O’ Neal, C, 1992-1995
Like Hardaway, O’ Neal made the most of his tenure in Orlando. In four seasons with the Magic, O’ Neal averaged 27.2 PPG, 12.5 RPG, and 2.8 BPG in 295 career games. O’ Neal also earned three All-Star Game and two All-NBA nods with Orlando, including winning the 1992-1993 Rookie of the Year Award. O’ Neal was also named the player of the month on three separate occasions while leading the NBA in points during the 1994-1995 season. In hindsight, there’s no question that O’ Neal was the best pick Orlando could’ve made with the first pick back in 1992. Unfortunately for Orlando, they decided to let O’ Neal leave in Free Agency. O’ Neal would later win four championships and finals MVP in three of those championship wins. While Orlando didn’t have the prime version of O’ Neal, he is still one of the best to do it.
Tracy McGrady, SG, 2001-2004
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59101859/571641.jpg.0.jpg?w=1110&ssl=1)
Although it was a close race between McGrady and Nick Anderson, McGrady takes the cake due to his career accolades with Orlando. While McGrady averaged an impressive 28.1 PPG, 7.0 RPG, and 5.2 APG in 295 games, his tenure in Orlando began what became his Hall-of-Fame career. McGrady won the 2000-2001 Most Improved Award, and there was no looking back for “T-Mac”. He went on to earn four All-Star and ALL-NBA nods, along with finishing fourth in the MVP voting from 2001-2003. McGrady would later join Hardaway in the Magic’s Hall of Fame. Orlando decided to trade McGrady in the 2003 offseason to Houston, where he began to pursue his first NBA title. Like Howard and O’ Neal, McGrady had much more success after he left the Magic, but it’s fair to wonder if his four years with the Magic were the foundation of his successful career.
