Orlando Magic Daily
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Final Position Retrospective: The All-Time Orlando Magic Roster

By Brett David Roberts

1993: Shaquille O'Neal #32 of the Orlando Magic takes a break during an NBA game circa 1993. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1993 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
1993: Shaquille O'Neal #32 of the Orlando Magic takes a break during an NBA game circa 1993. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1993 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Point Guard:  Penny Hardaway / Scott Skiles

Penny-Hardaway-BJ-Armstrong-Game-3-ESF-1995
Penny-Hardaway-BJ-Armstrong-Game-3-ESF-1995 /

Anfernee Hardaway and Scott Skiles actually did spend a season together in the backcourt as Skiles provided tutelage for Hardaway’s eventual transition to being the starting point guard. Skiles was dealt to the Washington Bullets, and his role and talent was far less defined than in his prime seasons with Orlando.

Hardaway would provide the premier talent in this all-time scenario, but Skiles could come in at the point and shift Penny to the shooting guard spot. That would be one of the better lineups the backcourt could yield, particularly when its starter is sent to the bench.

Skiles still holds the all-time record for most assists in a game (30) and was a dead-eye shooter having shot 41 percent or better from 3-point range in three consecutive seasons.

magic_skiles_90
magic_skiles_90 /

In the 1993 season, he was third in assists in the league with 9.4 per game. Skiles would be deadly in a pick and roll with either Shaquille O’Neal or Dwight Howard.

Beyond Skiles’ tangible contributions, he had the guts and heart to lead a team. Prime Skiles would stabilize this team and he was a master at controlling tempo.

One has to wonder what the Magic would have been like had Hardaway never been obtained and Skiles remained the floor general of the team. It still could have contended, but perhaps not on the same level given Penny was an All-NBA First Team performer.

At any rate, Skiles and Hardaway make up the second-most talented position for the all-time Magic.

Even beyond the options on this team, Darrell Armstrong and Steve Francis present great cases for being on the bench. It is hard to put Skiles above Armstrong, given Armstrong’s intense defense, but Penny was no slouch defensively and the Magic really do not need Armstrong with two premier points.

Next: Orlando's only scoring champ and its first lottery pick