Latest Orlando Magic News

    Orlando Magic Franchise Information

    Have a read on below at some quick stats and facts on the Orlando Magic to get you started: 

    Established:1989
    Stadium:Amway Center
    Colours:Blue, black & silver
    Hall of Famers:Dominique Wilkins, Patrick Ewing, Shaquille O’Neal, Tracy McGrady & Grant Hill
    Hall of Fame Coaches:Chuck Daly
    Rivals:Miami Heat, Atlanta Hawks & Los Angeles Lakers
    Legends:Shaquille O’Neal, Penny Hardaway, Grant Hill, Tracy McGrady, Dwight Howard & Hedo Turkoglu
    Retired Numbers:6
    Conference: Eastern Conference
    Division:Southeast Division
    NBA Championships:None

    Orlando Magic History

    In 1987 the NBA decided to expand to three new cities. Minnesota and Charlotte were locked in, however the panel couldn’t decide between Orlando and their Florida counterparts, Miami. After failing to split the two, both Orlando and Miami were granted teams in the NBA. 

    The Orlando Magic were the first professional sports team to be based in Orlando and played their first season in 1989-90. Prior to their inaugural season, the Magic selected Nick Anderson with their first ever draft pick. Anderson had just won Mr Basketball and College Player of the Year and would go on to lead the Magic in scoring for a decade. 

    Anderson and point guard Scott Skiles led the Magic to a 18-64 record in their first season, 3 wins better than their Florida rivals Miami Heat’s first season. Orlando selected Dennis Scott with the fourth pick in the 1990 draft who would go on to set a NBA rookie record 125 threes in a season and be selected to the All-Rookie First Team for the 1990-91 season. Skiles would have a NBA record 30 assists in a game that season and win Most Improved Player, helping Orlando improve to a 31-51 record. 

    The following season saw the Magic struggle with injuries as Scott only played 18 games while Anderson missed 22 games throughout the year. Orlando had a 17-game losing streak during the 1991-92 season and ended with a 21-61 record, however still managed to sell out all 41 home games during the season. 

    Finishing with the second worst record in the league, meant the Magic had a high chance of receiving the first pick in the 1992 draft, which they did and selected Shaquille O’Neal. 

    O’Neal made an immediate impact and helped improve the Magic by 20 games to a 41-41 record and winning Rookie of the Year, however they missed out on making the playoffs as they were tied with the Indiana Pacers, who held the tiebreaker in the matchup. 

    Orlando had a magical night in the 1993 offseason, where despite having the lowest odds due to just missing the playoffs, won the first overall pick for the second straight season. The Magic selected Chris Webber with their first pick, but traded him immediately for the third pick Penny Hardaway and future draft compensation. 

    Hardaway’s guard play combined with O’Neal’s dominance inside created one of the best guard/centre duos of the time and propelled Orlando to its first 50 win season in Hardaway’s first year with the team. The inexperienced Magic were swept by the Indiana Pacers in Orlando’s first go at the playoffs. 

    The Magic signed All Star Horace Grant as a free agent in the 1994 offseason. Grand’s experience and leadership helped the O’Neal and Hardaway led Magic to a 57-25 season and the 2-seed in the East. 

    Orlando beat the Celtics, Bulls and Pacers on the way to becoming the second fastest franchise to reach an NBA Finals, in just their sixth season. The Magic faced a formidable and more experienced opponent in the Houston Rockets who beat the Magic 4-0 to claim their second straight championship. 

    Orlando were dominant again in 1995-96, finishing second in the East behind the Michael Jordan led Bulls who the Magic would face in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Bulls would sweep the Magic 4-0.

    Disheartened by the last two seasons ending in sweeps and wanting to play for a bigger market franchise, O’Neal left for the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1996 offseason, only playing four seasons with the Magic.

    Despite O’Neal’s departure, Hardaway still led the team to the playoffs, and facing a 2-0 deficit against the Miami Heat, Hardaway dropped back to back 40 point games to force a deciding game 5, which Orlando ultimately lost. 

    With all of the turnover, the Magic decided to hire Chuck Daly as head coach prior to the 1997-98 season giving the team some hope for the future despite having a Shaquille O’Neal sized hole in the roster. This hope seemed to dwindle with Hardaway missing most of the season but Anderson helped lead the team to a 41-41 season, just missing the playoffs. 

    Darrell Armstrong, who went undrafted in 1991 and played globally before joining Orlando in 1995, won 6th Man of the Year and Most Improved Player in 1998-99 season, who combined with a healthy Hardaway and Anderson helped Orlando tie Miami for the best record in the East. The Magic lost 3-1 to Allen Iverson and the Philadelphia 76ers. 

    Rookie head coach Doc Rivers was hired prior to the 1999-00 season and was tasked with leading the team who had just traded it’s only star, Penny Hardaway to the Phoenix Suns. Rivers would lead the team to a 41-41 record, receiving Coach of the Year, but just missing the playoffs. 

    The Orlando Magic managed to land two big fish from the 2000 free agency pool, Grant Hill and Tracy McGrady. Hill only managed four games due to an ankle injury, allowing McGrady to blossom into a star and leading scorer in the league.

    McGrady won Most Improved Player and paired with rookie sharpshooter Mike Miller, who won Rookie of the Year, propelled the Magic back into the playoffs, losing to the Bucks 3-1 in the first round. 

    The 2001-02 season saw Hill still struggling with that ankle injury and McGrady and Miller lead Orlando to the playoffs, this time losing in the first round to Baron Davis and the Charlotte Hornets. 

    Hill once again didn’t play in the 2002-03 season, allowing McGrady to continue to shine as the solo star. The Magic traded Miller for more depth with their big men and McGrady ended up leading the NBA in scoring, while leading Orlando to the playoffs again. 

    Orlando were up 3-1 over the Detroit Pistons in the best of seven series and McGrady was quoted as saying ‘it feels good to get in the second round’, with one win still left to get. The Pistons would go on to win the next three games and eliminate the Magic, their third straight first round exit. 

    Tracy McGrady led the league in scoring again in 2003-04 but the Magic struggled as a team, going on a 19 game losing streak, firing coach Doc Rivers and finishing last in the East with a 21-61 record.

    This caused a bitter ending with McGrady who was accused of not trying at stages during the season. McGrady wanted to stay in Orlando but wanted help that he never got before being traded in the 2004 offseason. 

    The year 2004 saw Orlando land the first pick in the NBA Draft again, selecting another dominant big man, high school phenom Dwight Howard. The Magic signed Hedo Turkoglu and traded for rookie point guard Jameer Nelson. 

    The Magic started the 2004-05 season with a 13-6 record. Hill’s return from injury, Howard’s dominant play as a rookie and Nelson’s emergence as a quality point guard was overlooked due to poor performances against some of the leagues bottom sides. 

    The team failed to make the playoffs that season and the next, however showed promise in the 2005-06 season, making a late push at the eighth seed with an 8-game winning streak and 12 consecutive home wins. During this time Howard had a 28 point and 26 rebound performance against the Philadelphia 76ers. 

    Orlando selected Duke star and sharpshooter JJ Redick with the 11th pick in the 2006 draft, but he only managed 11 minutes per game in his rookie campaign. Injuries hindered the Magic’s chances at a playoff push but Howard, who was selected to his first All Star Game in just his third season, led Orlando to the eighth seed, making the playoffs for the first time, however the team was swept by the experienced Detroit Pistons. 

    Stan Van Gundy was appointed head coach prior to the 2007 season, and the team signed Rashard Lewis as a free agent. The Magic started the season 16-4 including wins over the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers. 

    Turkoglu won Most Improved Player and the Magic went on to win their first Southeast Division title since the 1995-96 season, when O’Neal was in the team. Orlando finished the season with a 52-30 record and third in the East, defeating the Raptors 4-1 in the first round before falling again to the Detroit Pistons. 

    The Magic had a hunger to get further than they had before, starting the 2008-09 season 33-8 before a Nelson shoulder injury slowed the team down. Orlando finished with a 59-23 record and the 3-seed in the East, defeating the 76ers in the first round then defeating the defending champion Boston Celtics in the second round. 

    The Eastern Conference Finals saw the Magic come in underdogs against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, however Orlando won game 1 of the series and went on to beat the Cavs 4-2, stopping what many thought was supposed to be a LeBron v Kobe Finals. The Magic would win their first and only NBA Finals game in game 3, but the Lakers led by Kobe Bryant were too dominant, winning the series 4-1. 

    The 2009 offseason saw big changes to the Magic roster, sending out Turkoglu and other players while bringing in the likes of Vince Carter, Ryan Anderson and Matt Barnes. Despite key players missing games to begin the 2009-10 season, Orlando had a 23-8 record and went on to win 23 of their 28 games after the All Star break. 

    The Magic were in the playoffs for the fourth straight year, had won a third straight Southeast Divisional Championship and had the second best record in the NBA. Finishing at 59-23, the Magic became the first team to defeat all other 29 teams at least once during a season. Orlando swept Charlotte and Atlanta in the first two rounds of the playoffs but lost the first three games of the Eastern Conference Finals to the Celtics, losing the series 4-2. 

    After starting the 2010-11 season slowly, the Magic traded multiple players to bring Turkoglu back, whilst also trading Lewis for controversial yet talented Gilbert Arenas. Orlando finished the season with 52 wins but was eliminated in the first round for the first time with Van Gundy as coach. 

    Prior to the 2011-12 season, superstar Dwight Howard requested a trade from the franchise, which was denied. The team was underperforming but Howard removed his trade request, signing a one year extension before publicly asking Van Gundy to be replaced. Howard would later require back surgery, ending his season and the Magic’s with it who lost in the first round of the playoffs yet again. 

    The 2012 offseason was franchise defining. Van Gundy was stood down and months later Howard was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, with the Magic losing their franchise centre to the Lakers for a second time. The team has been in a rebuild since Howard’s departure, unable to make the playoffs for six straight seasons. 

    Focused on centre Nikola Vucevic, who they received as part of the Howard trade, the Magic signed Evan Fournier to a long term deal and the two, paired with Gordon have led the Magic to the playoffs in 2019 and 2020.

    However, being stuck in mediocrity isn’t good enough in the NBA and Orlando decided to blow up the roster. Vucevic, a 2x All Star, Gordon and Fournier were all traded away for younger players and draft capital, starting a long rebuilding process for the Magic.

    The Orlando Magic had a miserable season in 2021-22 as they ended up with the second worst record in the entire National Basketball Association. However, it led to them getting the number one pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.

    Expert 2022-23 Picks & Preview on Orlando Magic

    If you are a fan of the Orlando Magic, then you know that the only thing that matters right now is how they are expected to perform in the 2022-23 season. Do the Orlando Magic have the star power to make it all the way to the playoffs and win The Finals in 2023?

    Have a read on below at SportsTips expert picks & preview on the Orlando Magic:

    Front Office

    Jamahl Mosley is the head coach of the Orlando Magic, and this upcoming 2022-23 National Basketball Association season will be his second season in charge of the franchise. He has been coaching in the league for one year overall and over the course of his coaching career he has never made the playoffs. His overall record in the regular season currently sits at 22-60 as he looks to turn the Orlando Magic around. He is a former player who spent his entire professional career overseas and he began his coaching career in 2005.

    John Hammond is the general manager of the Orlando Magic and he has held that position within the franchise since 2017. This upcoming 2022-23 National Basketball Association season will be his fifth season as the decision maker for the franchise. He has worked for the Milwaukee Bucks in the past in the front office. He has coached with the Los Angeles Clippers and Detroit Pistons as well.

    Key Players

    Cole Anthony is the best player on this team’s roster and he is sure to make a huge impact during the 2022-23 National Basketball Association season. This upcoming season will be his third season in the National Basketball Association. Last season he put up some impressive numbers as he averaged around 16 points per game. He set up his teammates as well as he averaged around six assists per game. He also managed to do some work on the boards as he averaged around five and a half rebounds per game. 

    The second key player on this roster is Jalen Suggs and this upcoming season will be his second season in the National Basketball Association. Last season he put up some impressive numbers as he averaged around 12 points per game. He set up his teammates as well as he averaged around four and a half assists per game. He also managed to do some work on the boards as he averaged around four rebounds per game.

    Breakout Player

    Paolo Banchero will be the breakout player on this team’s roster and he is sure to make a huge impact during the 2022-23 National Basketball Association season. He is a former number one overall pick in the 2022 National Basketball Association Draft. This upcoming season will be his rookie season in the National Basketball Association after attending Duke. Last season he put up some impressive numbers as he averaged around 17 points per game. 

    He set up his teammates as well as he averaged around three assists per game. He also managed to do some work on the boards as he averaged around eight rebounds per game. He put in some work on the defensive end of the court as well, averaging around one steal per game and one block per game. His list of accolades is impressive as he is a former ACC rookie of the year and first team all ACC selection in his one year at Duke.

    Orlando Magic Betting & Odds Preview 2022-23

    The Orlando Magic campaign during the 2021-22 National Basketball Association season went about as you would’ve expected. They finished the year with a record of 22-60 and in last place of the Southeast Division. They have a lot of young players and they should be a lot better this upcoming season. 

    There is a lot of optimism surrounding the franchise heading into the 2022-23 National Basketball Association season. If they want to improve or keep up their current level of play they will certainly need a ton of production from their stars over the course of the 2022-23 National Basketball Association season. The most important thing in any season is how a team starts out of the gate, and then how they look when the all-star break approaches. 

    In the National Basketball Association, a lot can change over a single off-season. It will be interesting to see how their offseason moves translate onto the basketball court over the course of the 2022-23 National Basketball Association season. Based on their odds to win some hardware headed into the season it is clear how the oddsmakers in Las Vegas feel about them heading into the year. 

    Their odds to bring home the Southeast Division championship this season currently sit at +15000 heading into the 2022-23 National Basketball Association season, which puts them last in the Southeast Division out of five teams. 

    While their odds to win the Eastern Conference currently sit at +25000 heading into the 2022-23 National Basketball Association season, which puts them last in the Eastern Conference out of 15 teams. Their overall odds to bring home the championship are currently sitting at +50000 heading into the 2022-23 season, as they rank 27th out of all 30 teams in the National Basketball Association.

    Orlando Magic FAQ

    Still got some burning questions about the Orlando Magic? Well, we have answered some of the most common questions people have, hopefully you will find the answer you are looking for below! 

    Where do the Orlando Magic play?

    The Orlando Magic play their home games at the Amway Center. 

    Who owns the Orlando Magic?

    RDV Sports, Inc. owns the Orlando Magic. 

    Have the Orlando Magic won an NBA Championship?

    The Orlando Magic have won 0 NBA championships. 

    Who is the Orlando Magic coach?

    Jamahl Mosley is the head coach of the Orlando Magic. Mosley was signed in the 2021 offseason, after being an assistant in Dallas for seven years, and is seen to be the right voice to lead Orlando through this rebuild and beyond.  

    Do the Orlando Magic play tonight?

    Are you wondering if the Orlando Magic are playing tonight? Well, SportsTips has all the details you need about upcoming Orlando Magic games! Make sure you check this page at the top for all the details you are looking for.

    What is the Orlando Magic record?

    The Orlando Magic had a 22-60 win-loss record for the 2021-22 NBA season. 

    Did the Orlando Magic win last night?

    Fans of the Orlando Magic are all wanting to know if they won the game last night. You can find more information in relation to the team’s recent form in games on the page at the top.

    How much are the Orlando Magic worth?

    According to Forbes Magazine, the Orlando Magic are worth $1.64 billion.

    Who do the Orlando Magic play tonight?

    Like a lot of things in the NBA, things change pretty quickly. So, if you are looking for more information about who the Orlando Magic play tonight, you have come to the right place. We have all this information for you in detail, you can find these details for upcoming games at the top of the page.

    How to watch the Orlando Magic?

    You can watch the Orlando Magic on TV channels like ESPN, ABC, TNT, NBA TV or Fox Sports Sun, or subscribe to NBA League Pass. 

    Will the Orlando Magic make the playoffs this year?

    The Orlando Magic did not make the playoffs for the 2021-22 NBA season. They finished 15th in the East with a 22-50 record.  

    When do the Orlando Magic play?

    Orlando Magic fans are always looking for more information about when their team plays the next game. For all the information you have been craving and more, be sure to check the top of this page. Here at SportsTips we list all the information you need like the tip off time, location of the game and the all important NBA odds.

    Where did the Orlando Magic finish the season?

    The Orlando Magic finished the 2021-22 NBA season in 15th place in the Eastern Conference. 

    How many games did the Orlando Magic win?

    The Orlando Magic won just 22 games during the 2021-22 NBA season.