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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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2. Shaquille O’Neal (1993-96)

High/Low: 1/3

By Philip Rossman-Reich

If one player deserves credit for making the Orlando Magic feel like a NBA team, it would be Shaquille O’Neal. His size and presence transformed the Magic in every way. The team went from expansion team to championship contender seemingly in an instant as O’Neal took over.

O’Neal’s gravity, both on the floor and off the floor, was impossible to ignore. He brought everyone in and took them along for the ride. There was no stopping Shaquille O’Neal.

From the moment he stepped on the floor he changed the game. He pulled down backboards and scored at an incredible rate. Defenses had to account for him immediately.

O’Neal was not just brute force, as he may have become later on in his career. He was incredibly athletic for a player his size. He would lead fast breaks and nimbly work his way through traffic to rise above the rim and stuff it down on his opponent.

He had so much joy playing and it created a fun team to watch.

O’Neal had the numbers to back that up too. He averaged 27.2 points and 12.5 rebounds per game in his four seasons with the Magic. Those are gaudy. And O’Neal dominated the league for a long time.

Shaquille O'Neal, Orlando Magic
Mar 27, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Former NBA player Shaquille O’Neal is introduced as he was inducted into the Magic Hall of Fame during the first half against the Detroit Pistons at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

He was a different player in Orlando though. He was more innocent and pure. The championship dreams were there and he elevated the Magic there by his mere presence. He was having a lot more fun in his four years with the Magic. It was like college extended as he expanded his brand and established himself.

The wins came. Eventually O’Neal wanted more. The Magic mishandled his free agency completely. O’Neal was not blameless there either. It kept the team from keeping the good times rolling.

But maybe how fast the star shined in Orlando and how quickly it got snuffed out keeps what O’Neal did in Orlando more pure. He was everything a young franchise could want to get a taste of greatness.

It has spent the last two decades looking for more.