The Top 10 Orlando Magic Players in NBA History
The Orlando Magic have found their next superstar in forward Paolo Banchero. The 21-year-old became the second-youngest player in NBA history with fifty points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in a game when he dominated the Indiana Pacers on October 28.
Banchero has emerged as the face of a franchise still in search of its first NBA Championship. Orlando has had several pieces over the years who have shown promise at earning them their first ring, with many adored by fans of the 35-year-old franchise.
If he wants to become an all-time great, he’ll have to surpass some of these other franchise legends.
1. Shaquille O’Neal
The Magic had no identity just three years into their existence, but they struck gold when they won the 1992 NBA Draft lottery. With that, they selected Shaquille O’Neal as the first overall out of LSU, and the franchise (and league) would change forever.
“Diesel” was a force in the paint for Orlando, averaging 27.2 points per game over his four years in town. He gave the Magic their first true superstar, winning NBA Rookie of the Year and being named to four All-Star teams. More importantly, he turned the fortunes of the franchise around, leading them to the NBA Finals in 1995 against the defending champion Houston Rockets. Shaq would depart from Orlando shortly after, but he is beloved in the “City Beautiful” to this day.
2. Dwight Howard
Shaq laid the groundwork for another big man to take Orlando by storm. Dwight Howard was the first overall pick of the 2004 NBA Draft, quickly developing into one of the most dynamic players to ever play for the Magic.
Howard’s interior defense was among the best in the NBA during his time in Orlando, transforming the team into a versatile powerhouse in the Eastern Conference. He averaged 18.4 points per game and 13 rebounds per game during his time with the Magic, highlighted by a trip to the NBA Finals in 2009. Howard’s days in Orlando saw some of the most dominant play ever by a big man, and despite a messy exit, he still remains a franchise icon.
3. Penny Hardaway
Even Batman needs his Robin, and Shaq had that in Penny Hardaway. The two formed one of the most dynamic combos in the NBA and came just shy of winning an NBA Championship.
The Magic traded first-overall pick Chris Webber for Hardaway in the 1993 NBA Draft, and he’d go on to make four All-Star appearances with Orlando. He averaged 19 points per game alongside 6.3 assists. Hardaway’s intense style of play and high energy paired perfectly with Shaq, but injuries would ultimately get the best of him on his way out of town.
4. Tracy McGrady
Tracy McGrady was the best pure scorer in Orlando Magic history, following up Hardaway’s tenure with offensive dominance.
McGrady was a two-time NBA scoring champion while a member of the Magic, making four All-Star appearances and being named All-NBA four times as well. He also holds the franchise record for most points in a single game with 62. McGrady averaged nearly 30 points per game from 2000 through 2004 in Orlando, and he is still remembered fondly by Magic fans for his fireworks.
5. Nick Anderson
Orlando’s Iron Man is Nick Anderson, holding the franchise record for games played from the franchise’s first season through 1999. He saw many of Orlando’s first major moments up close, and was instrumental in getting it to the 1995 NBA Finals.
Anderson averaged nearly 20 points per game in consecutive seasons from 1991 through 1993 but settled in as a tenacious defender who was instrumental in rallying the Magic. He is best remembered for stealing the ball from Michael Jordan in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 1995, sealing the win for Orlando and helping lead them to the NBA Finals. Shaq has led calls for the Magic to retire Anderson’s number due to his longevity with the franchise.
6. Hedo Türkoğlu
Every NBA Finals team needs role players who are capable of making the big shot. Hedo Türkoğlu proved he could be that guy for the Magic during the late 2000s.
Türkoğlu improved significantly over the course of his time with the Magic, increasing his point total by nearly six per game from 2006 through 2008. He was the NBA’s Most Improved Player in the 2007-2008 season and shot more than 45 percent from the field that season. He’d help the Magic to the NBA Finals the next season, where they fell just short to the Los Angeles Lakers. His productivity dropped off upon leaving Orlando, but he was impactful during his time there.
7. Jameer Nelson
Jameer Nelson was a critical piece to that NBA Finals appearance for the Magic, a point guard who was electric in distributing the ball to Orlando’s weapons.
He was an All-Star as a 26-year-old on that team, averaging 16.7 points per game and 5.4 assists per game. Nelson was also a pinpoint shooter from beyond the arc, shooting 45.4 percent from 3 during that campaign. He was a strong leader on a squad featuring big personalities like Howard and spent 10 of his 17 seasons in the league in Orlando. He’s fifth all-time on Orlando’s scoring list.
8. Grant Hill
Grant Hill was acquired from the Detroit Pistons on a seven-year, $92.8 million sign-and-trade deal in 2000, and the Magic appeared ready to pair him up with McGrady to make a championship run. Hill struggled mightily, though, to stay on the court due to chronic leg injuries, missing the entire 2003-2004 season.
Hill rebounded nicely for Orlando upon getting healthy. He was an All-Star in 2004-2005, averaging 19.7 points and 34.9 minutes per game. He became embedded in the Orlando community and remains actively involved in it to this day. Hill and his wife are part-owners of the Orlando Pride and Orlando City soccer teams, and fans are more receptive to his legacy than they once were.
9. Dennis Scott
Ask an Orlando Magic fan about “3-D,” and they’ll tell you how much they loved Dennis Scott during the heyday of the franchise.
He started all 82 games his rookie year and finished third in the Rookie of the Year voting. Scott earned the “3-D” moniker for his willingness to shoot the 3-ball, at one point holding the franchise record for 3’s in a season with 267. He was massively important to the Magic making an NBA Finals run in 1995, and spent seven seasons with the franchise.
10. Nikola Vucevic
The NBA has evolved significantly over the last decade. No longer are big men expected to dominate the paint alone. Now, they have to shoot the long ball, and Nikola Vucevic encompassed that style of play perfectly with the Magic.
“Vooch” spent nine seasons with the Magic, making two All-Star appearances with the team. He was instrumental in rebuilding the squad as a playoff contender, helping them get there in back-to-back seasons in 2018-2019 and 2019-2020. He’s third all-time in points scored for the franchise, and remains a fan favorite to this day.
