Magic

The Orlando Magic joined the NBA in 1989 as an expansion franchise, one of two new teams added alongside the Minnesota Timberwolves. Their early years were defined by the lottery — poor enough to keep acquiring high picks, not yet talented enough to win consistently. The franchise's first transformative moment came in 1992, when Orlando won the lottery and selected Shaquille O'Neal first overall. O'Neal arrived at 20 years old and immediately became one of the most physically dominant players the league had ever seen: 7'1", 325 pounds, with a combination of size, athleticism, and competitive ferocity that overwhelmed conventional defensive planning. The Magic went from 21 wins the year before his arrival to the playoffs within two seasons.

The partnership of O'Neal and Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway — taken first overall in 1993 by Golden State and immediately traded to Orlando — gave the Magic one of the most electric superstar duos of the 1990s. Hardaway was the rare guard whose physical gifts and basketball intelligence suggested comparisons to Magic Johnson: 6'7", elite vision, and the ability to dominate the game without dominating the ball. The 1994-95 Magic posted 57 wins and swept their way to the NBA Finals, where they met the Houston Rockets' twin towers of Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler — and lost in a sweep. O'Neal's departure to the Los Angeles Lakers following the 1996 season ended the era before the franchise could secure a title.

Tracy McGrady arrived via trade from Toronto in 2000, and his time in Orlando produced some of the most breathtaking individual scoring seasons the league has documented. McGrady won consecutive scoring titles (2002-03 at 32.1 PPG, 2003-04 at 28.0 PPG) and delivered performances that remain touchstones for any discussion of pure offensive artistry — including 13 points in 33 seconds against San Antonio in December 2004. His departure to Houston in 2004 left the Magic searching for their next cornerstone.

They found one in Dwight Howard, selected first overall in the 2004 NBA Draft. Howard developed into one of the most dominant centers of his generation: eight-time All-Star, three-time Defensive Player of the Year, and the anchor of a 2008-09 team that reached the NBA Finals before losing to Kobe Bryant's Los Angeles Lakers. Howard's 2012 trade request and departure began another rebuilding cycle.

The current era is defined by the 2022 selection of Paolo Banchero first overall — a 6'10" forward from Duke whose offensive sophistication and competitive instinct immediately recalled the franchise's tradition of premium lottery picks. Banchero won Rookie of the Year in 2022-23 and earned All-Star status by 2024-25. His partnership with Franz Wagner — drafted eighth overall in 2021 — gives Orlando a young frontcourt as talented as any in the conference. The Magic play at Kia Center (formerly Amway Center) in downtown Orlando, one of the league's finest arenas.