As 2009 comes to a close, Howard the Dunk takes a look back at Orlando’s “All-Decade Team.” This is a team made up of what HTD believes to be are the best Magic players from 2000-2009.
It should come as no surprise that four of Orlando’s starters on the All-Decade team played on the 2008-09 team which won the Eastern Conference Championship and advanced to the NBA Finals.
Dwight Howard, Center, 2004 –
Considering Shaquille O’Neal and Tracy McGrady each spent just four seasons with the Magic and exited on bad terms, Dwight Howard is probably the most important player in the history of this franchise.
And he may be the franchise’s best player, too.
Orlando made Howard the #1 overall pick in the 2004 draft, their third #1 overall pick in team history. Howard made an impact right away, averaging a double-double (12 points per game, 10 rebounds per game) as a rookie while starting in all 82 of Orlando’s games. Howard’s numbers have improved in each season, as has his team’s record. In Howard’s third year, the Magic finally made the postseason and Howard was invited to his first All-Star game. In the following season, Howard was voted to another All-Star game, was named to the All-NBA First team, the second-team All-Defensive team, and finished fifth in MVP voting. Howard’s Magic advanced to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 1996. Howard also participated in the Slam Dunk contest for the second time, winning the event with his “Superman” dunk. During the 2008-09 season, Howard led the league in rebounding and blocked shots, increased his scoring average to over 20 points per game and finished fourth in MVP voting. Howard was named the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year and led the Magic to the NBA finals. He became a three-time All-Star and led all players in fan voting. Howard was also the fourth most efficient player in the entire NBA and was first in defensive rating.
Howard finished second in rebounding in 2006 and has led the league each season since. He has had more total rebounds than any player in the NBA in each of the last four seasons. He has been named to the NBA All-Star team three times, the All-Rookie team once, First team All-NBA twice, Third team All-NBA once, Second team All-Defensive team once and First team All-Defensive team once. Howard has two top five finishes in MVP voting was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year during the 2008-09 NBA season. Howard has missed just three games in his entire career, has started in 436 of his 437 games and has started in each of the team’s 37 playoff games from 2007 to 2009.
Rashard Lewis, Power Forward, 2007 –
Lewis was acquired by the Magic in a sign-and-trade in 2007. He spent his first nine seasons with the Seattle Supersonics (who are now the Oklahoma City Thunder). Lewis is currently in just his third season with the Magic but he has meant a lot to the franchise. Lewis’ play is often overlooked because of his $118 million contract, but he has been a very good player on both ends of the court for the Magic. During Lewis’ first two seasons with Orlando, he played in 160 of a possible 164 regular season games, starting every one, and started all 34 of Orlando’s playoff games. Lewis averaged 18.2 points per game during the 2007-2008 season and helped the Magic advance to the second round of the playoffs. Lewis was 10th in the league in minutes played. During the 2008-2009 season, Lewis scored 17.7 points per game and led the league in 3-point field goals made and attempted. He also averaged 5.7 rebounds per game and was named to the 2009 All-Star team. Lewis has saved his best performances for most important situations, averaging 19.5 points per game during the 2008 postseason and 19.0 points per game during the 2009 postseason. Lewis hit several big shots during Orlando’s playoff run in 2009 and helped lead the Magic to the NBA Finals.
Hedo Turkoglu, Small Forward, 2004 – 2009
Turkoglu signed with the Magic as a free agent during the 2004 offseason and was used as a sixth man during his first season in Orlando. He started just 11 games and averaged just 14.0 points per game. He averaged 14.9 points per game during his second season with the Magic as they fell just short of the postseason. Turkoglu had a down year during the 2006-2007 season, before having his breakout season in the 2007-08 season when he was named the NBA’s Most Improved Player. Turkoglu averaged career highs in games played (82), games started (82), minutes (36.9 minutes per game) points (19.5 points per game), shooting percentage (45.4%), assists (5 assists per game) and rebounds (5.7 rebounds per game). Turkoglu helped the Magic advance past the first round of the playoffs for the first time since the 1995-1996 season. Turkoglu’s numbers dropped during the 2008-09 season, but his playmaking ability and clutch shooting helped lead the Magic to the NBA Finals for the second time in team history. In 2009, Turkoglu became a free agent and was acquired by the Toronto Raptors in a sign-and-trade involving the Raptors, Magic, Dallas Mavericks and Memphis Grizzlies. Turkoglu is currently the starting Small Forward for the Toronto Raptors.
Tracy McGrady, Shooting Guard, 2000 – 2004
McGrady signed with the Magic as a free agent during the 2000 offseason and made an immediate impact. He averaged 26.8 points per game, 7.5 rebounds per game and 4.6 assists per game. He made the All-Star team, was named the league’s most improved player, finished sixth in MVP voting and was named to the All-NBA Second team. McGrady led the league in scoring during the 2002-2003 season (32.1 points per game) and during the 2003-2004 season (28.0 points per game). McGrady was the league’s third most efficient player three times and the most efficient player once (2002-2003) during his Magic career. McGrady led the Magic to the playoffs in his first three seasons and was fantastic during the postseason, averaging 32.0 points per game in the playoffs. Unfortunately, the Magic were never able to get out of the first round. McGrady was an All-Star in each of his four seasons with the Magic and was named to the All NBA first team twice and the second team twice. McGrady had a rocky end to his Magic career and was traded to Houston in 2004 along with Juwan Howard, Tyronn Lue, and Reece Gaines for Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley, and Kelvin Cato. McGrady is currently playing for the Houston Rockets.
Jameer Nelson, Point Guard, 2004 –
Nelson has been a big piece of the Magic since he was acquired from the Denver Nuggets on draft night in 2004. After being a part-time starter for the first year-and-a-half, Nelson took over the role full-time in the second half of the 2005-06 season and averaged 14.6 points per game. After disappointing campaigns over the next two seasons, Nelson played the best basketball of his professional career to that point during the 2008 postseason. Nelson averaged 16.2 points per game, 4.7 assists per game, and 4.1 rebounds per game while shooting 50.4% from the field and 48.8% from beyond the arc.
This playoff performance led to Nelson’s breakout year during the 2008-09 season. Nelson scored 16.7 points per game and shot the ball incredibly well. Nelson shot 50.3% from the field and 45.3% from beyond the arc, giving him an effective field goal percentage of 58.0%. Nelson also dished out 5.4 assists per game and grabbed 3.5 rebounds per game. Unfortunately, Nelson’s season was cut short when he dislocated his shoulder in the team’s 42nd game of the season. Nelson was named to his first All-Star game in 2009, finished 10th in true shooting percentage, and eighth in offensive rating.
Sixth Man:
Darrell Armstrong, Point Guard, 1994 – 2003
Darrell Armstrong has always been a fan-favorite among Magic fatihful. Armstrong was the heat and soul of the franchise for several years. The two best statistical seasons of Armstrong’s career came during the 1999-2000 campaign and the following season. Armstrong averaged 16.2 points per game and 15.9 points per game during those two seasons.. After being named Most Improved Player and Sixth man of the year in 1999, Armstrong became the main man the following season. Armstrong started all 82 games and led the Magic in scoring, assists, steals, and minutes played. Armstrong led a team of nobodies, known as the Heart & Hustle team to a 41-41 record that fell just one game short of the postseason. The team lacked talent and was known for their desire and hard-work, defined by Armstrong’s inspired play. Armstrong spent nine seasons with the Magic and the team made the playoffs in seven of those seasons. Armstrong will always be remembered as an all-time Magic great, not because of his numbers, but because of the way he played the game. Armstrong signed with the Hornets as a free agent in 2003. Armstrong is currently an assistant coach with one of his former teams, the Dallas Mavericks.
Nelson and Armstrong were virtually even, but Armstrong was a former sixth man of the year, so that is his role on Orlando’s All-Decade team.
Honorable Mention:
Andrew DeClercq, Center, 2001-2005
Tony Battie, Center, 2004-2009
Bo Outlaw, Forward, 1997-2001, 2005-2008
Pat Garrity, Forward, 1999-2008
Grant Hill, Forward, 2000-2007
Mike Miller, Guard, 2000-2003
(Andrew Melnick is Howard the Dunk’s lead blogger and a contributor at NFL Mocks Subscribe to his RSS feed and add him on Twitter to follow him daily.)