Through Orlando Magic history, the team has made a few changes to the uniform. The blue, black and white color scheme makes it easy to play with the design.
The Magic recently unveiled yet another uniform that will be used as an alternate during the 2017 season. Initially, the new uniform received mixed reviews. All three colors could be used as the primary color of a jersey but are also capable to just be an accent on the trim. So the simplicity of this recent uniform may not be what Magic fans hoped for.
From the franchise’s start, the Orlando Magic uniform has stood out a bit. From the pinstripes to the stars and back to pinstripes, the Magic’s uniform has been a fan favorite throughout the league.
The design of a uniform plays a role in how the team is viewed. This has been amplified recently with teams using alternate or “throwback” uniforms. Even colleges have picked up on the importance of the uniform and use it as a recruiting tool (see University of Oregon). The uniform becomes synonymous with the organization and the city as a whole.
So without further ado, let’s take a look at where each uniform ranks in the team’s history.
The Bottom Three
6. 2004-2008: Plain Home and Away
There was not a lot of history made in this uniform. Actually, there was more bad than good wearing these.
Orlando missed the playoffs three straight years. Grant Hill was injured a good portion of his tenure. The team also had three coaching changes. So yeah, maybe not the best memories with this uniform.
The design went away from the flamboyant stars in the lettering to more professional-looking block letters. The uniform itself also lacked in style as the front was only accented with a small star in the center of the neckline.
This jersey is worn less frequently by fans than any other Magic jersey as far as I have seen, supporting the notion that it is not one of the team’s best looks.
Get your first look at our brand-new “Stars” jersey, which players will wear during the 2016-17 season! #PureMagichttps://t.co/h6MJ6sWKGM
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) August 9, 2016
5. 2017: Alternate “Stars”
Like the 2004-08 uniform, this “Stars” alternate uniform is a little on the plain side. The simple design with the logo in the center of the chest as the focal point with two stripes on either side is just, blah.
After going back to the pinstripes, the team has been known for to this, seems like a step in the wrong direction as the franchise tries to get back on track.
Some fans have suggested this new design is a sample of how many NBA jerseys will look in the future to create space for sponsor patches, that is yet to be seen. The Magic have not played one game in these uniforms yet, so maybe they will look better with a person wearing them.
In any case, the uniforms were made in partnership with adidas, who will no longer be making the NBA’s uniforms following the 2017 season. So these jerseys may be put on the trash heap after being worn a few times this season.
4. 2015-Present: Alternate “Pride”
With the return of the pinstripes, the Magic threw another wrinkle in, sleeves. Not just sleeves though, a gray uniform with sleeves.
The NBA experimented with sleeves on the uniforms in an attempt to increase jersey sales. They figured the average guy might not be secure enough to walk around with his arms out and might prefer to have some sleeves on his jersey. So now nearly every team has a jersey with sleeves.
Orlando chose to add another twist to the sleeved uniform by making it gray. While this uniform is not hideous or even bad looking, it just does not quite crack the top three. And continues to be derided by fans as looking too much like pajamas.
3. 2009-Present: New Pinstripes
The current Orlando Magic uniform has seen some recent downs, but it started out with a bang.
Immediately following the transition back to the pinstripes, Orlando made their second appearance in the NBA Finals.
The team brought back the beloved pinstripes many NBA fans associate with the original Magic uniform. The nostalgia for a taste of the glory days when Shaquille O’Neal and Anfernee Hardaway were superstars ready to take over the league just might have tipped the team over the top. Not only the team but the fans and the city.
The Orlando Magic were relevant once again with the return of the pinstripes. Then just like the first go around, the team began to take steps backward and now we are here.
These uniforms have had their critics for not being similar enough to those original jerseys, but the jersey set looks modern and successfully calls back to the team’s glory days. The team introduced a black alternate in 2012 that was also very well received (despite some criticism about the blue piping on the side panel).
The Magic are at a crossroads for the franchise and need to make the playoffs sooner rather than later. Seeing how these uniforms have been used since 2009, it would not surprise me if a new design for the home and away uniforms is implemented down the road along with the “Stars” alternates. Especially considering the NBA is switching its uniform provider from adidas to Nike.
A new uniform might be another great call by the franchise in order to officially move away from the rebuilding days.
2. 1999-2003: The Stars
Looking to move past the Shaq and Penny days into the Penny days, Orlando made the first uniform change in franchise history before the 10th anniversary season in 1999.
At the time, Orlando had not won a playoff series since O’Neal moved on to Los Angeles, so the change in jersey design was meant to symbolize a new beginning.
The first season of this uniform was during the lockout-shortened season. That year Orlando returned to the playoffs as a three seed and tied for first in the Eastern Conference. Unfortunately, they were eliminated in the first round.
The following season would produce the beloved “Heart and Hustle” team followed by a new star in Tracy McGrady. And He made these uniforms ubiquitous around the league, keeping the Magic nationally relevant even as they struggled for Playoff success.
The big change to the uniform started with taking out the pinstripes and inserting stars into the background. The material made the uniforms look a little more shiny as well, giving the effect of shimmering stars. A new Magic logo was also added making the ball a little more fancy.
Orlando was thrust into the national spotlight once again with an emerging superstar in McGrady leading the pack. Aside from McGrady a few other elite NBA talents dawned these same uniforms, albeit not while in their primes. Dominique Wilkins, Shawn Kemp and Patrick Ewing made their last stops in Orlando wearing this uniform.
The Magic scaled the jerseys back in 2001 to eliminate the stars on the road uniforms. But these were a clean look that was unique to the Magic and a good second try after leaving the iconic pinstripe uniforms.
1. 1990-1998: The Pinstripes
The very first uniform worn by the Orlando Magic has to be number one. This was the first jersey available for purchase for a professional sports team representing the city of Orlando.
The lettering on the uniform was unique — they placed stars where the letter ‘A’ would be in Magic. There were pinstripes that only the New York Yankees were able to make look good.
The Magic reached their first NBA Finals in this design with Shaq and Penny leading the franchise.
While the success on the court was more important in the Magic gaining national relevance, the awesome uniforms did not hurt.
The Magic had gold here. The white and black pinstripe designs were simple. They got even better when the team introduced a blue alternate in the 1995 season. That eventually replaced the black jerseys as their primary road uniform.
This uniform is still ranked among the top uniforms in the history of the league. The Magic brought Orlando to the national scene and then the international scene as Shaq and Penny did commercials and played on the Olympic teams.
The greatness of this uniform can be found in the fact that the franchise went back to this design for their current look. And any time the team wears these as throwback jerseys, fans get excited and there is a new buzz in the arena.