This article was originally published before the 2013 All-Star Weekend.
The NBA has hit its All-Star Weekend! Hard to believe that the game was in Orlando just a short year ago.
The Magic have only two representatives in this year’s festivities — Nikola Vucevic and Andrew Nicholson will participate in the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge on Friday — and we will be watching them closely Friday night in that game. The two have already touched down in Houston and have started the media frenzy that is the preparations for their showcase.
Orlando though has a rich All-Star history. And so to whet your appetite for the weekend ahead, let’s take a look back at the moments that have made Magic All-Star history.
Eds. Note: We have continued to add to this article with highlights from the Orlando Magic’s rich All-Star history. Since this article was posted, Nikola Vucevic graduated to the Sunday game, ending the Magic’s seven-year All-Star drought and Aaron Gordon has become two-time People’s Champ in the Dunk Contest.
I have decided to add this post to our Video Vault too. So enjoy our collection of highlights from the Orlando Magic’s All-Star history.
February 8-10, 1991: NBA All-Star Weekend, Charlotte
Who is ready for a trivia lesson? Name the first Magic player to participate in All-Star Weekend.
The year above should tell you that it was not Shaquille O’Neal (he came two years later). No, the first player to wear the Magic uniform at All-Star Weekend was Dennis Scott!
Scott competed in the 3-Point Shootout that weekend in Charlotte, reaching the semifinals with 16 points in the first round. Here is Craig Hodges winning the whole thing.
Otis Smith joined 3D to compete in the Slam Dunk Contest. Otis Smith scored two 41s and was eliminated in the first round. Word was he liked his dunks. This was the famous Dunk Contest won by Dee Brown after he pumped up his shoes and did the peek-a-boo. Enjoy the best of that contest.
February 7-9, 1992: NBA All-Star Weekend, Orlando
Before the Magic even officially had a player in the game, the city played host to the All-Star Game and had one of the most memorable performances in All-Star history. Magic Johnson made a special return to the game. And he put in an MVP performance with 25 points and nine assists.
When the All-Star Game returned to Orlando last year, the moment was honored with Magic Johnson back in the building.
Nick Anderson was the featured Magic player on Saturday night in Orlando as he participated in the Slam Dunk Contest.
Also in that All-Star Weekend, Craig Hodges defended his 3-point shootout crown and Cedric Ceballos won the Dunk Contest. I for some reason want to see a Legends Game again now too.
February 19-21, 1993: All-Star Weekend, Salt Lake City
The Orlando Magic get their first official All-Star as Shaquille O’Neal starts for the East in his rookie season in the All-Star Game in Salt Lake City’s Delta Center. O’Neal scored 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds in his first All-Star appearance in the West’s 135-132 win.
February 11-13, 1994: NBA All-Star Weekend, Minneapolis
The future of the NBA was very much on display in Minneapolis for this All-Star Weekend. Shaquille O’Neal started for the second time in his second season. But he had company for this trip. Anfernee Hardaway was the MVP of the first-ever Rookie Game leading the Sensations over the Phenoms in overtime with a team-best 22 points on 8-for-9 shooting.
O’Neal started again, but struggled, shooting 2 for 12 from the floor in scoring eight points and grabbing 12 rebounds in an East win up at Target Center in Minneapolis. Shaq did get to stare down Hakeem Olajuwon however.
February 10-12, 1995: NBA All-Star Weekend, Phoenix
The Orlando Magic got a much larger representation in Phoenix for the 1995 All-Star Game. Anfernee Hardaway and Brian Hill and his coaching staff joined O’Neal for the All-Star Game festivities as the Magic had raced out to the best record in the East on their way to an Eastern Conference Championship.
Nick Anderson was the first Magic man to take the floor as he participated in that year’s 3-point shootout, becoming the only Magic player to participate in both the 3-point shootout and the dunk contest in a Magic uniform. Anderson failed to crack the final four, however.
The All-Star Game was a great one for the Magic men. O’Neal scored 22 points and grabbed seven rebounds and Hardaway scored 12 points to go with 11 assists and five rebounds in his first All-Star appearance.
And if anyone ever tells you Dwyane Wade made band-aids cool to wear, they are wrong. It was Anfernee Hardaway.
February 9-11, 1996: NBA All-Star Weekend, San Antonio
O’Neal and Hardaway start yet again for the East in what would be their final pairing together in the league’s showcase event — this one in the Alamodome in San Antonio. Hardaway scored 18 points to go with seven assists and O’Neal has 25 points to go with 10 rebounds. Michael Jordan wins the MVP despite scoring five fewer points than O’Neal.
Shaq was not a very nice guest to David Robinson in San Antonio.
Of course, Jordan got the last/first laugh when he ripped off Hardaway’s pants in introductions. It was a game for Jordan to re-assert his dominance.
Dennis Scott came the closest a Magic player has ever come to winning the 3-point shootout. The veteran sharpshooter, competing in his second 3-point shootout, finished secnod, losing by a single basket to Tim Legler. I remember being very distraught about this at the time.
This All-Star Game also featured Darrell Armstrong showing off all his spunkiness in the Slam Dunk Contest. It was not a performance to remember, unfortunately. Although, that was a thunderous reverse layup.
February 7-9, 1997: NBA All-Star Weekend, Cleveland
Anfernee Hardaway was still a starter in the first year without Shaquille O’Neal, scoring 19 points on 7-for-10 shooting in the East’s win. The big shocker in Cleveland was Glen Rice’s 20 points in the fourth quarter to give the East the win. And, yes, that is a young Kobe Bryant in his first All-Star Game. And Tom Gugliotta.
February 6-8, 1998: NBA All-Star Weekend, New York City
Anfernee Hardaway was back as a starter in 1998, but he was coming off an injury and was on a strict minutes limit. He played six minutes in each half for his cameo at this game at Madison Square Garden.
February 9-11, 2001: NBA All-Star Weekend, Washington, D.C.
It was a new era of Orlando Magic basketball as Tracy McGrady made his first start for the East All-Star team. There were probably some nerves, as he made just one of his four shots and scored two points. But McGrady had officially arrived. Grant Hill was there with him (also named a starter), but in street clothes. An all too familiar theme.
The game itself was a classic with Allen Iverson leading a frenzied comeback in the second half to give the East a one-point win in Washington, D.C.
This weekend also saw Pat Garrity represent the Magic yet again in the 3-point shootout. Garrity was a mainstay in the Magic lineup throughout this era of Magic basketball and a great shooter in his own right. Ray Allen was the contest winner.
It also saw Mike Miller, the eventual Rookie of the Year, representing the Magic in the newly christened Rookie-Sophomore Game. Miller became the Magic’s first rookie to compete in the exhibition since Hardaway in 1994 (thanks John Gabriel). Mike Miller scored 11 points in the Sophomores win.
February 8-10, 2002, Philadelphia
Tracy McGrady announced himself to the world with an incredible and fun performance at the 2002 All-Star Game in Philadelphia. He introduced his off-the-backboard dunk in scoring 24 points and simply dominated the highlight reel for this game. The final result did not matter. McGrady was officially an MVP candidate.
Mike Miller also returned to join the Sophomore in the Rookie-Sophomore Challenge. He struggled this time around though with only seven points, but he did dish out 11 assists.
February 7-9, 2003: NBA All-Star Weekend, Atlanta
In Atlanta, Tracy McGrady continued to cement his status as a true NBA superstar with 29 points in this double-overtime thriller, which turned out to be Michael Jordan’s final All-Star Game. This game was not about his highlights. It was about him being one of the best players in the league. and there was no doubt about that.
Pat Garrity also returned to the All-Star Weekend to compete in the 3-point shootout. He lost to Peja Stojakovic however.
February 13-15, 2004: All-Star Weekend, Los Angeles
Tracy McGrady was in the midst of an awful season for his team when the All-Star Game descended upon Los Angeles. He was dissatisfied with the direction the Magic were heading and the seeds of frustration were going. This was a weekend for him to relax a bit. McGrady scored 15 points in his second straight start and third in four years in a Magic uniform.
February 18-20, 2005: NBA All-Star Weekend, Denver
Somehow, the year after Tracy McGrady was traded out of Orlando, Grant Hill was voted onto the All-Star team and played 17 minutes, scoring six points for the East in Denver. It was actually the only All-Star Game Hill played in while with the Magic.
However, the future of the team was at the All-Star Weekend. Dwight Howard played in the Rookie-Sophomroe Challenge, scoring 14 points on 7-for-11 shooting on a big team that featured Emeka Okafor and Al Jefferson. This game might have been notable in that it featured Miami’s big three…
February 17-19, 2006: NBA All-Star Weekend, Houston
Dwight Howard was the only Orlando Magic player to play in this All-Star Weekend in Houston. Jameer Nelson was also named to the Sophomore team, but he was unable to play because of an injury. Howard took it easy in this sophomore win with four points on 2-for-7 shooting as Andre Iguodala scored 30 points.
February 16-18, 2007: NBA All-Star Weekend, Las Vegas
By 2007, Dwight Howard was ready to take the reigns as the face of the Magic franchise. He was an All-Star for the first time, coming off the bench behind Shaquille O’Neal in this event in Las Vegas and dancing like a Dwight’in fool as he usually did.
This was his weekend to have fun and get the full All-Star experience. He entered the Slam Dunk Contest where his “sticker dunk” did not wow the judges, but wowed everyone else.
He had 20 points and 14 rebounds in his All-Star debut.
February 15-17, 2008: NBA All-Star Weekend, New Orleans
In New Orleans, Dwight Howard found his stage to true superstardom with a victory in the Slam Dunk contest. Howard was very upset over how his sticker dunk was overlooked in the previous year’s dunk contest and so he stewed and came back to the All-Star Game to win the dunk contest. He brought out his new persona and became a superstar this evening.
He also started in his first All-Star Game and put in a solid 16 points and nine rebounds on a perfect 7 for 7.
February 13-15, 2009: NBA All-Star Weekend, Phoenix
In Phoenix, Dwight Howard allowed Nate Robinson to leap over him for a Slam Dunk Contest win. Howard had too much to live up to in this contest.
Howard started again for the East and scored 13 points to go with nine rebounds. For the first time Orlando had three All Stars on the roster with Rashard Lewis playing in the game and Jameer Nelson selected to the team, but unable to play because of injury.
Lewis was also busy on Saturday night, nearly winning the 3-point shootout with his funky shooting motion before losing to Daequan Cook in a shootout.
February 12-14, 2010: NBA All-Star Weekend, Dallas
In front of the largest crowd ever to watch a basketball game at Cowboys Stadium outside of Dallas, Howard started for the East and scored 17 points on 7-for-10 shooting. Howard was quickly learning this is a guard dominated game and not one for much big man highlights. Stan Van Gundy joined the fun as the Magic staff earned the right to be the East’s coaches for this game. I am sure he was thrilled when Howard drilled this three.
February 18-20, 2011: NBA All-Star Weekend, Los Angeles
Howard played 21 minutes and scored five points and grabbed seven rebounds in this uneventful All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles for the big man. Calling out the starters for the TNT broadcast was probably his only highlight.
February 24-26, 2012: NBA All-Star Weekend, Orlando
The All-Star Game was back in Orlando. The Amway Center was rocking and the city “was on fire” as Dwight Howard described it. It was a crazy season thanks to Dwight Howard’s indecision about his future, but he seemed to put it all to rest for three short days. Orlando was the center of the NBA universe and proved to be a home run. The All-Star Game should be returning again.
But this event was well-known for Kyrie Irving’s crazy performance in the Rising Stars Challenge,
Kevin Love winning a 3-point shootout for the big men (over Ryan Anderson),
Jeremy Evans coming out of nowhere to win the Slam Dunk contest,
and Kevin Durant winning his first All-Star MVP.
And, most importantly, the reunion of Penny, Shaq and Dennis Scott.
February 15-17, 2013: NBA All-Star Weekend, Houston
With Dwight Howard out of Orlando, the new era for the Magic began to take over. The representation was sparse in that first year.
Nikola Vucevic and Andrew Nicholson though arrived in Houston to represent the Magic in the Rising Stars Challenge.
February 14 -16, 2014: NBA All-Star Weekend, New Orleans
Victor Oladipo took the mantle when the All-Star Game arrived in New Orleans. He participated in the Rookie Game and came a split second of winning the Skills Challenge with Michael Carter-Williams.
Arron Afflalo also participated in the 3-point shootout — perhaps penance for him not making the main team.
February 13-15, 2015: NBA All-Star Weekend, New York City
Victor Oladipo returned to the All-Star Weekend in 2015 and helped steal the show with a stellar performance in the Slam Dunk Contest. He, of course, ran into the juggernaut that is Zach LaVine.
Oladipo still put in an incredible dunk performance with a 540 dunk and an incredible display of athleticism.
Oladipo’s weekend started in the Rising Stars Challenge. He and Elfrid Payton represented the United States in the new USA vs. World format.
February 12-14, 2016: NBA All-Star Weekend, Toronto
If Zach LaVine overshadowed Victor Oladipo’s stellar dunk performance in 2015, he found a tougher Magic opponent in 2016.
Aaron Gordon was the talk of the weekend with an incredible contest performance. Many believed he should have won the event outright. His sit-down dunk was among many dunks he did that were original, creative and awe-inspiring.
Elfrid Payton and Mario Hezonja were also part of the Rising Stars Challenge, playing against each other in the U.S. vs. World format.
February 17-19, 2017: NBA All-Star Weekend, New Orleans
Everyone was wondeirng what Aaron Gordon would do for an encore when he entered the Slam Dunk Contest for a second straight year. He was the odds-on favorite to win. And for a Magic season that had gone so quickly off the rails, his appearance in the Slam Dunk Contest was a lone bright spot.
Or it was supposed to be.
Gordon had the goods. He had the innovative ideas, using a drone to deliver an alley-oop. It just did not really work out. Nursing a bone bruise, Gordon was definitely not able to get his typical lift.
He was never as smooth as he was the year before. And it left a missed opportunity to get the Slam Dunk Contest trophy he certainly deserved.
February 15-17, 2019: NBA All-Star Weekend, Charlotte
The Orlando Magic had gone six years without a NBA All-Star, the longest drought in the franchise’s history. The team had gone through a dark period of rebuild that saw the team struggle to top even 30 wins.
At long last, the Magic were back in the All-Star Game. That was made perhaps a bit sweeter with Nikola Vucevic in there. He was the one the Magic acquired in the infamous Dwight Howard trade. And while he had struggled to lead the Magic to much, his consistency was what drove him ultimately to his first All-Star opportunity.
And that would help spark the team to return to the Playoffs too.
Vucevic also participated in the Skills Competition where he lost to Nikola Jokic in the first round.
February 14-16, 2020: NBA All-Star Weekend, Chicago
Aaron Gordon walked out of the Dunk Contest the runner-up and at least the co-People’s Champion. He tried again in 2017 and could not execute his dunks, to his frustration. He entered again in 2018 but had to back out due to injury.
Everyone recognized Gordon was one of the best dunkers in the league. But he did not have the hardware to prove it.
The 2020 Dunk Contest was supposed to be his moment. And he put on a performance that will again go down in Dunk Contest history. But then he lost again. Under a fair amount of controversy.
Gordon was once again the People’s Champion.
Who will be the next Orlando Magic All-Star representative?