What we learned about the 1995 Orlando Magic from “Blue Chips” oral history

We know who Nick Anderson has in the Shaq vs. Dwight debate and the ’95 legacy endures

"Nick Anderson: I used to have this conversation with Dwight Howard years ago. I used to tell him, “Shaquille O’Neal at your age, even at a younger age, he’d have killed you.” But he don’t seem to think so. I used to tell him, “Man, you just don’t understand. You caught Shaq on his elder years and you still really couldn’t do nothing with him. But a young Shaquille O’Neal? Ain’t nothing you could do but holler, ‘Help, help, help!’” Tree Rollins: I still make my home in Orlando. I just got my hair cut and even my barber was talking about those days. You would think they would be talking about the Dwight Howard days. They went to the championship round also, with the Lakers. But they always talk about those [Shaq and Penny] days. Those were great days."

Until someone says otherwise, the great debate in Magic history will be which center is the greatest player in Magic history? Dwight Howard or Shaquille O’Neal.

Howard has the longevity. O’Neal has the impact and establishment — not to mention gaudy offensive numbers. Both are worthy of the honor.

The 1995 guys have their guy’s back.

Nick Anderson would know better than anyone, having been around the franchise for both eras of Magic contention.

Howard’s teams may have actually won the championship, but really they were standing on the shoulders of the O’Neal teams. It was those 1995 teams that really revolutionized the use of the 3-point line that has become the vogue today.

Howard was really good, and by my estimation is the best player in Magic history. But no one can deny O’Neal’s impact and no one should be too upset if they disagree and think O’Neal was better in his four years in Orlando.

As far as impact, as good as that 2009 team was, the 1995 team was like the first love for this city. That is why the O’Neal and Hardaway departures still sting. This group was special to Orlando and there is a reason even 20 years later we still talk about this group reverentially and like it was yesterday.

Magic fans are just waiting for the next team to remind them of the limitless possibility this first group gave us all.

Next: The next five for Orlando Magic Hall of Fame Enshrinement