The Top 10 Orlando Magic Players of All-Time

The Top 10 Orlando Magic Players of All-Time

The Top 10 Orlando Magic Players of All-Time

Photo by Tom Pidgeon/ Getty Images Sport

The Orlando Magic have had a turbulent history since they were founded in 1989. Although they are yet to win an NBA Championship, the franchise has boasted many prodigious players on its court. Here, we rank the top 10 players in Orlando Magic history and their impact on and off the court.

1. Shaquille O'Neal

  • Name: Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal
  • Position: Center
  • Years Played: 1992-1996
  • Stats: 27.2 PPG, 12.5 RPG, 2.7 BPG  58/1 FG% 
  • 1984-96: 1995 NBA Finals appearance, 1995 All-Star

Playing Style and Impact

Shaquille O'Neal was a freak of nature in size, strength, and skill that no other player possessed. He was a game-changer in the paint both ways, the stuff of nightmares for opponents. Because of his footwork and agility, Shaq could do about five power dunks a game. He made it look so easy to finish near the rim at will.

2. Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway

  • Full Name: Anfernee Deon Hardaway 
  • Position: PG / SG
  • Years Played: 1993-1999
  • With Magic: 21.6 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 7.1 APG,.440 FG%
  • Achievements:- 4× NBA All-Star (2010, 2013–15) 2nd Team ALL-NBA 

Playing Style and Impact

Penny Hardaway was celebrated for his rangy floor game. At 6'7", he was big enough to play either guard position effectively. However, his plodding speed, lack of ball-handling ability, and lack of court vision caused him to stagnate for himself and his teammates.

Hardaway's prime was in the mid-1990s when he teamed with Shaquille O'Neal to create one of the league's best tandems. In 1995, in their only season together, Penny had chronically painful knees, which contributed to his early decline. He and Shaq took the Magic all the way to the Finals. An injured Hardaway was a surprise return in the playoffs, but he showed postseason mettle plenty of times and finished with 42 points to lead Orlando over the Miami Heat on its way to an NBA Finals appearance.

3. Tracy McGrady

  • Official Name: Tracy Lamar McGrady
  • Spot: Shooting Guard / Small Forward
  • Years Played: 2000-2004
  • Centerline: Fast Facts & Highlights
  • Career Stats with Magic: 28.1 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 5.2 APG
  • Achievements: 4-time NBA All-Star, 2001 NBA Most Improved Player

Playing Style and Impact

McGrady was an offensive powerhouse who could score in several ways. He was also one of the toughest players to defend, as he could shoot deep and get through a drive with his shot coming off. That was unbelievably beneficial to McGrady, who used his height and wingspan to easily shoot over top defenders.

McGrady topped the NBA in scoring while with the Magic during 2002-03, leading the league at 32.1 PPG. He became a fan favorite and an indispensable piece of this team at his best when he could regularly take over games.

4. Dwight Howard

  • Complete Name: Dwight David Howard
  • Position: Center
  • Years Played: 2004-2012
  • Stats With Magic: 18.3 PPG, 12.0 RPG, 2.2 BPG (Career)
  • Accomplishments: 3× NBA Defensive Player of the Year,5x NBA All-Star2009 Runner-up NAB Final Series

Playing Style and Impact

Dwight Howard thrived in the paint, his strengths being rebounding on both ends of the floor as a shot blocker and finishing around. This combination of athleticism and strength allowed him to be a great defensive player, hence why he won multiple Defensive Player Of The Year.

Howard led the Magic to the 2009 NBA finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. In the postseason, he averaged 20.6 points and 15.0 rebounds, proving that he could down buckets when it counted most.

5. Nick Anderson

  • Full Name: Nick Anderson
  • Shooting Guard / Small Forward
  • Years Played: 1989-1999
  • Magic Career Stats: 15.4 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 2.8 APG
  • Playing Experience: Made the 1995 NBA Finals

Playing Style and Impact

Nick Anderson, who scored, could also do some things defensively. He was a mainstay of the Magic when they had success early in their history. Anderson's match-up ability and his stubborn determination to score to avoid wearing the goat horns were a perfect marriage.

He helped lead the Magic to an NBA Finals appearance in 1995, doing a lot of his damage on both ends of the floor. Fans also relate to his franchise loyalty. He played in 692 games for the Canucks.

6. Hedo Türkoğlu

  • Full Name: Hedo Türkoğlu
  • Position: Small Forward/Power forward
  • Years Played: 2004-2009
  • Magic Career Stats: 16.4 ppg, 5.3 rbg, 4.9 apg
  • NBA: 2008 MIP, Reached '09 NBA Finals

Playing Style and Impact

His shooting was also crucial to the Magic's offense, especially from three-point range. Türkoğlu, with low turnovers and high assist numbers, became an indispensable piece of the team simply because he was another creator on the floor.

Hedo was the driving force behind Orlando reaching the NBA Finals in 2008-09, where he had playoff averages of 15.8 points and five assists per game. This postseason, he was big, hitting clutch shots and came up huge in the biggest moments.

7. Horace Grant

  • Birth Name: Horace Junior Grant
  • Position: Power Forward/Centre
  • Years Played: 1995-1999
  • Stats with The Magic: 13.7 PPG, 10.4 RPG
  • Achievement: 1995 NBA Finals

Playing Style and Impact

Horace Grant Defense Rebounds Most of the Magic's success came in his absence, but his experience and leadership were vital. Though neither the most talented nor well-rounded player, Grant could score in the post as one of five with a half-court offense and warm up from 15-20 feet to create space between defenders when needed.

His performance led the Magic to their first-ever NBA Finals 1995 by registering a double-double throughout the playoffs.

8. Jameer Nelson

  • Full Name: Jameer Nelson
  • Position: Point Guard
  • Years Played: 2004-2014
  • Magic Career Stats: 12.6 PPG, 5.2 APG,3.1 RPG
  • Achievements: 2009 NBA Finals, 2010 NBA All-Star

Playing Style and Impact

Nelson was a leader and playmaker. He has an above-average speed and handle to create playmaking for him and his teammates. While Nelson was not as strong, his marksmanship from downtown made him an asset on the offensive end for the Magic.

In the 2008-2009 season, he was a key component in taking Orlando Magic to the NBA finals. That postseason, Nelson averaged almost fifteen points per game and four and a half points per game. We would not have won those games without his clutch gene or ability to run the offense.

9. Rashard Lewis

  • Full Name: Rashard Lewis
  • Position: SF/PF
  • Years Played: 2007-2011
  • Magic stats: 16.3 ppg; 5.1 RPG
  • Achievements: 2009 NBA All-Star

Playing Style and Impact

Rashard Lewis was one the best floor-stretchers in history because of his 6-foot-10 body that could rain down threes. He was a key contributor in Orlando's run to the NBA Finals during the 2008-09 season, when he averaged 17.7 points and just under 40% three-point shooting for the Magic throughout his playoff appearances that year. His knack for hitting big shots made him a linchpin of that franchise.

10. Grant Hill

  • Full Name: Grant Henry Hill
  • Position: Small Forward
  • Years Played: 2000-2007
  • Orlando Magic Career Stats: 16.4 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 4. O APG
  • Claim to fame: 3× NBA All-Star (2001, 2002, and 2007 w/ the Magic)

Playing Style and Impact

Hill had a well-rounded game and could do it all. Able to score, rebound, and pass the ball at a high level, he was one of the more complete players in his era. Hill was athletic and could do things on the court because of his basketball IQ.

The injuries wore on Hill during his Magic days, though he could still show up and make a difference whenever the feeling was right. His veteranship was crucial for many of the young lads.

 

The Orlando Magic have come across many talented players throughout their history. Although they have never won an NBA Title, the influence of the top 10 players on this franchise and its fan base is timeless. The player style of each has defined an era in Orlando, and their collective legacies over the years created somewhat of a branding to represent Magic basketball.


SHOP Mystery Signed Memorabilia

LATEST

  • NEWS
  • |
  • ARTICLES
  • |
  • VIDEOS
img_articles

The Top 10 Brooklyn Nets of All-Time

img_articles

The Top 10 Denver Nuggets of All-Time

img_articles

The Top 10 Washington Wizards of All-Time

img_articles

What is Brad Stevens' Net Worth?

img_articles

What is Erik Spoelstra's Net Worth?

img_articles

What is Vince Carter's Net Worth?

img_articles

Top 10 Heaviest NBA Players of All-Time

img_articles

What is Jimmy Butler's Net Worth?

img_articles

Charles Barkley and Maureen Blumhardt: The Powe...

img_articles

Kyrie Irving and Marlene Wilkerson: Exploring T...

img_articles

Jalen Brunson and Ali Marks: Love and Support B...

img_articles

Joel Embiid and Anne de Paula: Inside Their Rom...

img_articles

Who is Linda Rambis? Unveiling the Power Behind...

img_articles

Joe Hampton's Journey: Did He Reach the NBA?

img_articles

Deshaun Highler: Did He Break Into the NBA?

img_articles

What If Michael Jordan Never Retired in 1993? A...

img_articles

NBA Christmas Games for the 2024-25 Season, Rev...

img_articles

How Would the NBA Be Different if the Seattle S...

img_articles

What If the 1992 Dream Team Played Against Toda...

img_articles

What If the Golden State Warriors Never Traded ...

img_articles

What If the New York Knicks Drafted Kevin Duran...

img_articles

What If the 2004 Detroit Pistons Never Beat the...

img_articles

How Would the NBA Be Different if the 1999 Lock...

img_articles

What If the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers Never Came...

img_articles

What If the Chicago Bulls Drafted Dirk Nowitzki...

img_articles

How Would the NBA Landscape Shift if the 1998 L...

img_articles

What If the Boston Celtics Drafted Paul George ...

img_articles

Who are the Top NBA Free Agents Available in 2024?

img_articles

Why Jalen Brunson's New Role With the New York ...

img_articles

The Rise of the New York Knicks: Building a Sup...

img_articles

Kobe Bryant: The Mamba Mentality and Its Impact...

img_articles

The Golden State Warriors: A Dynasty Built on T...

img_articles

The Role of Coaches in the NBA: Strategies Behi...

img_articles

The NBA's Greatest Players: Ranking the Top 10 ...

img_articles

The Miami Heat: Building a Championship Culture...

img_articles

Stephen Curry: How the Warriors' Star Changed t...

img_articles

LeBron James: The King’s Journey to NBA Greatne...

img_articles

Fab Melo: Remembering the Promising NBA Career ...

img_articles

Pete Maravich: Celebrating the Basketball Legen...

img_articles

Kobe Bryant: The Unforgettable Legacy of a Bask...

img_articles

Anthony Mason: Reflecting on the Life and Caree...

img_articles

The Joyful Spirit of 'Chocolate Thunder' and th...

img_articles

What is Jimmy Butler's Net Worth?

img_articles

What is Derrick Rose's Net Worth?

img_articles

Team USA leaves nothing but praise for Kevin Du...

img_articles

Who Was Drafted Ahead of Michael Jordan?

img_articles

Did a Woman Get Drafted to the NBA?

img_articles

Who are the Famous Basketball Players in Omega ...

img_articles

Rudy Gobert and Julia Bonilla's Relationship Pl...

FAN ARCH PODCAST NETWORK

nothing

Mystery Signed Memorabilia

//script of featured and trending tab div