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Orlando Magic Top 25: The Nos. 1-5 best players in Orlando Magic history

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic jumps wearing a Superman Cape in the Sprite Slam-Dunk Contest at the New Orleans Arena during the 2008 NBA All-Star Weekend February 16, 2008 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Howard won the contest with his series of dunks. AFP PHOTO TIMOTHY A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)
Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic jumps wearing a Superman Cape in the Sprite Slam-Dunk Contest at the New Orleans Arena during the 2008 NBA All-Star Weekend February 16, 2008 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Howard won the contest with his series of dunks. AFP PHOTO TIMOTHY A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images) /
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Hedo Turkoglu, Orlando Magic
January 5, 2013; Orlando FL, USA; Orlando Magic small forward Hedo Turkoglu (15) drives to the basket against the New York Knicks during the second half at Amway Center. New York Knicks defeated the Orlando Magic 114-106. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Hedo Turkoglu (2005-09, 2011-13)

High/Low: 6/11

By Dar-Wei Chen

The first four players on any “best players” list for the Orlando Magic is likely going to be — spoiler alert — some arrangement of Dwight Howard, Shaquille O’Neal, Anfernee Hardaway and Tracy McGrady. Everyone knows that much. After that superstar tier (what might be called the Magic “Mount Rushmore”), there are still quite a few players who were instrumental in propelling the Magic to great heights.

Perhaps no complementary Magic star did that as well as Hedo Turkoglu. That is why he checks in at No. 5, leading all of the “non-Rushmore” players.

Turkoglu did not necessarily arrive in Orlando (at the start of the 2005 season) with expectations of stardom. But, in the course of his Magic career, he gradually improved into a player who was worthy of All-Star consideration.

His calling card was his versatility: The Magic often deployed him as a “point forward” who could handle, pass and shoot the ball tremendously for someone his size.

In his prime seasons with the Magic, he was also a decent defender who could take on tough wing matchups when Mickael Pietrus took a breather.

During the Magic’s run to the 2009 NBA Finals, Turkoglu not only proved himself to be a versatile matchup nightmare for opponents, he emerged as the Magic’s go-to guy in crunch time.

Late in games, the Magic often ran simple Turkoglu-Howard high screen-and-roll plays, which were very difficult to cover given the Magic’s shooting prowess on the perimeter and Turkoglu’s vision and passing ability to find the right shooter if help defense did converge on him or Howard.

What people will probably remember most about Turkoglu is his propensity for game-changing plays (check out this good compilation here):

Although his second stint in Orlando (after Toronto and Phoenix) was not as good as the first, it does not dampen many of the fond memories Magic fans have of Turkoglu.

He was not a superstar like the top four players on this list, but he played like one often enough in big moments to earn a spot right after them.