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Dennis Scott: Titleless run with Shaquille O’Neal, Anfernee Hardaway still hurts

By Philip Rossman-Reich

SAN ANTONIO - 1994: Dennis Scott #3 of the Orlando Magic shoots against the San Antonio Spurs during a game played circa 1994 at the Alamo Dome in San Antonio, Texas. 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 1994 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO - 1994: Dennis Scott #3 of the Orlando Magic shoots against the San Antonio Spurs during a game played circa 1994 at the Alamo Dome in San Antonio, Texas. 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 1994 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The usually gregarious Dennis Scott rarely gets serious. One thing he still looks back on with seriousness, how close the Orlando Magic came to a title.

Orlando Magic fans can wax nostalgically about the glory days. The 1995 Finals run was one of the peaks in Magic history. For many, it cemented the team in the community and cemented fandom for a lot of people. The team still resonates with fans around the world.

The 1995 team was the feature of the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary This Magic Moment last year and is a constant classic team in the NBA2K series. It represented so much hope and optimism.

Despite more than 20 years, many fans still associate those 1995 teams with the Magic.

On top of all that, the 1995 Magic were one of the forebearers to the way the NBA plays today. They were one of the first teams to win with 3-point shooting as a viable weapon. Shaquille O’Neal and Anfernee Hardaway were the stars and made the team the title-contending team it became. But role players like Dennis Scott and Nick Anderson bombing away from beyond the arc made it truly revolutionary.

Scott was one of the first players who used the 3-point shot as a weapon in itself, dating back to his days with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

Scott’s career though was still incomplete. He was along for the ride with Shaquille O’Neal and Anfernee Hardaway. But the fact the team never got the chance to win a title — falling short in the 1995 Finals and losing to the 72-10 Chicago Bulls in 1996 before O’Neal left in free agency — still eats at him.

Scott reflected on his career in a sit down with the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame during its 60 Days of Summer interview series:

"“My hair just stood up on my arms,” Scott told an audience member who asked how much falling short in 1995 hurt. “It still hurts to this day because . . . I want all of you to understand this. If a guy sits in this chair and says he doesn’t play basketball to win, I bet you he is lying to you. Making the money is fine. Don’t get me wrong. Taking care of my family and taking care of my kids, that’s great. But the reason we play this game is to win. It still hurts. Do you know why? I never made it back to another Finals. When you see LeBron James go to seven straight Finals, I don’t care if you like him or not, you must respect that.”"

Scott averaged 12.9 points per game while shooting 42.6 percent from beyond the arc off the bench in the 1995 season. He was a critical player for the team during the early years of the franchise. Scott averaged 14.8 points per game and shot 40.3 percent from beyond the arc in seven years with the Magic from 1991-97.

Scott is one of the seminal players in Magic history — in that tier directly below the Magic’s four best players of all time.

He talked throughout his conversation at the Basketball Hall of Fame about how his career evolved. Scott had to show the value of the 3-point shot and create his value — dating back from his high school days to Georgia Tech and even in the NBA.

He also discussed how his friendship with O’Neal grew — from the time he picked him up as a rookie and how they bonded over music and the other things young players bond over.

It is a fun conversation. As every conversation with Scott is.

Next: ESPN predicts Orlando Magic record, Playoff fate

But when Scott gets serious, you know something still affects him. That loss in the 1995 Finals and how close the Magic were to winning championships still gets to him clearly. It is the lone blemish on a strong career for one of the game’s pioneer shooters.