By Billy Bonds
The Orlando Magic officially entered the NBA as an expansion
franchise in 1989. Led by a local businessman, Jimmy Hewitt and
former Philadelphia 76ers general manager Pat Williams, the
Magic hired Matt Guokas as the team's first coach. The inaugural
team compiled a record of 18-64 with players including Reggie
Theus, Scott Skiles (now current coach of the Chicago Bulls),
Terry Catledge, Sam Vincent, Otis Smith (now current general
manager of the Magic), and Jerry Reynolds. In the club's first
draft in 1989, the Magic chose Nick Anderson with the 11th pick
in the first round.
The club's first game was on November 4, 1989, at the Orlando
Arena (O-Rena). Despite playing a hard-fought game, the visiting
New Jersey Nets won 111- 106. The Magic's first victory came 2
days later, as the Magic defeated the New York Knicks 118-110.
In the 1990 NBA Draft, the Orlando Magic selected Dennis Scott
with the fourth overall pick. Scott, known as a sharpshooter,
helped the Magic compile a 31-51 record. Combined with the
fast-paced energy style of Skiles, who was named the NBA's Most
Improved Player at the end of the season, the Magic heralded the
NBA's most improved record that season. 1992 was a disappointing
season for the Magic, who struggled through a 17-game losing
streak.
The club's history was changed dramatically with the 1992 NBA
Draft. With the first overall pick, the Magic selected big-man
Shaquille O'Neal from Louisiana State University. O'Neal, a 7-1
center, made an immediate impact on the Magic, leading the club
to a 41-41 record. The Magic again were the NBA's most improved
franchise, and O'Neal garnered All-Star starter status and the
Rookie of the Year award. However, the Magic missed that year's
playoffs, because they were tied with the Indiana Pacers for the
8th (and final) playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and
because the Pacers owned the tiebreaker.
Missing out on the playoffs had a silver lining: despite having
the NBA's best non-playoff record (and thereby the least chance
of gaining the top draft pick with only one ball in the lottery
machine), the Magic once again won the NBA draft lottery. In the
draft, the Magic selected Chris Webber, but traded him to the
Golden State Warriors for the number three pick, guard Anfernee
Hardaway (known as "Penny" Hardaway) and three future
first-round draft picks. Prior to the draft, Guokas stepped down
as head coach, and Brian Hill was promoted to become the Magic's
second coach. Also, General Manager Pat Williams was replaced by
John Gabriel.
With the lethal combination of O'Neal and Hardaway, the Magic
became a dominant team in the NBA, compiling the first 50 win
season in franchise history with a 50-32 record. The Magic were
in the playoffs for the first time, ranked the fourth seed in
the Eastern Conference. However, the underdog Pacers team swept
the Magic 3-0 in the first round, thus ending the Magic's
season.
However, in the 1994-95 season, the Magic's sixth season, after
acquiring rebounder Horace Grant as a free agent from the
Chicago Bulls, Orlando compiled a 57-25 record, best in the East
and winning the Atlantic Division title. In the playoffs, the
Magic defeated the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, and the
Indiana Pacers, advancing to the NBA Finals. The Houston
Rockets, though, ended Orlando's dream of a championship by
sweeping Orlando 4-0 in the Finals to take the crown.
In the 1995-96 season, the Magic again dominated the Eastern
Conference and the Atlantic Division with a 60-22 record, led by
O'Neal and Hardaway. However, the Magic were seeded number two,
behind the amazing 72-10 record the Chicago Bulls accumulated
under Michael Jordan. In the playoffs, after the Magic defeated
the Detroit Pistons and the Atlanta Hawks, Orlando met the Bulls
in the Eastern Conference finals. The combination of Jordan,
Scottie Pippen and rebounder Dennis Rodman as well as Toni Kukoc
was too much for the Magic, and Orlando was swept 4-0 in the
Eastern Conference finals.
In the offseason, in a huge blow to the Magic franchise, O'Neal
left as a free agent to the Los Angeles Lakers. However, the
Magic still managed to compile a 45-37 record, led by Hardaway,
Darrell Armstrong, the team's emotional leader, and
newly-acquired free agent Rony Seikaly. In the playoffs, the
Magic came close to stunning the heavily favored Miami Heat in
the first round, extending the series to a classic game five,
even after losing the first two games. In the middle of the
season, though, urged by player discontent, management fired
coach Brian Hill and named Richie Adubato as interim coach for
the rest of the season.
The Magic then hired Chuck Daly to be head coach for the
1997-98 season. In addition, Hall of Famer Julius Erving joined
the Magic's front office, giving Orlando immense hope for a
successful season. However, the season was hampered by injuries,
as Hardaway sat out the majority of the season . Anderson,
combined with newly acquired free agent Bo Outlaw, led the team
to a respectable 41-41 record, just out of reach of the NBA
playoffs. In addition, Rony Seikaly was traded during the season
to the New Jersey Nets for three role players and a future draft
pick.
In 1998-99, with the acquisition of Matt Harpring and Michael
Doleac and a healthy Hardaway and Anderson, the Magic tied for
the Eastern Conference's best record in the lockout-shortened
season, 33-17. Armstrong again led the team emotionally, winning
the NBA's Sixth-Man and Most Improved Player awards. In
addition, Orlando also acquired NBA great Dominique Wilkins,
along with brother Gerald, who were past their primes but were
both still very good. In the playoffs, though, the Magic were
seeded number 3 because of tiebreakers and faced the
Philadelphia 76ers. The 76ers, led by Allen Iverson, upset the
Magic 3-1 in the first round.
In 1999, the Magic, under General Manager John Gabriel, who was
later named Executive of the Year, hired rookie-coach Doc
Rivers. Gabriel dismantled the previous team trading their only
remaining superstar Anfernee Hardaway to the Phoenix Suns for
Danny Manning (who never donned a Magic uniform), Pat Garrity
and two future draft picks. The Magic were then a team virtually
comprised of all no name players and little experience which
included team captain Armstrong, Bo Outlaw and a young Ben
Wallace, along with Coach Rivers led the Magic to a 41-41
record, barely missing out on the playoffs. At the end of the
season Rivers was named Coach of the Year by the NBA. This year
was characterized by the slogan "Heart and Hustle", as the team
was known for its hard-working style.
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