Orlando Magic Daily
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NBA2K18 previews Orlando Magic’s all-time team

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ORLANDO, FL - 1994: Shaquille O'Neal #32 of the Orlando Magic goes up for a dunk during a game against the Detroit Pistons circa 1994 at Orlando Arena in Orlando, Florida. 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)
ORLANDO, FL - 1994: Shaquille O'Neal #32 of the Orlando Magic goes up for a dunk during a game against the Detroit Pistons circa 1994 at Orlando Arena in Orlando, Florida. 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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NBA fans are excited for the introduction of all-time NBA teams into NBA2K18 this fall. 2K gave fans a sneak peak of the teams, including the Orlando Magic.

This year’s version of NBA2K will include all-time teams for each NBA franchise. It has fans wondering who will represent their teams and excited to play as some of the best players in league history in a new way.

This is not like working to put together a team in the MyTeam mode or playing as any historic teams — like the 1995 Orlando Magic — this is putting together the best players in franchise history.

This exercise is a debate that rages among fans still and creates plenty of discussions. NBA2K is not going to settle these debates. But still, it will add fuel to the fire.

The Orlando Magic will have one of the more intriguing teams in the game.

Despite the team never winning a championship and its short 28-year history, the Magic have had some truly great players. Tracy McGrady and Shaquille O’Neal are Basketball Hall of Famers. Anfernee Hardaway was part of one of the truly iconic teams in league history. And Dwight Howard was one of the most dominant centers in the league.

The team should get plenty of play and be one of the more popular all-time teams in the game.

The Magic are not front and center in the advertising for this game. NBA2K has released images of a few teams — including the all-time Los Angeles Lakers and all-time Chicago Bulls. Everyone is waiting to see who will represent the Magic. We took our best guess on Orlando Magic Daily after the teams were announced.

In the latest trailer for NBA2K18, the game developers preview the game mode with clips of the all-time teams in action. Including the Orlando Magic:

Aside from the shock of seeing some of the all-time great players in modern NBA uniforms — Karl Malone in the current Utah Jazz uniform feels . . . odd. And I will not lie, Shaquille O’Neal in the current Magic uniform was also somewhat jarring.

But astute viewers did get to see some of the All-Time Magic in action.

It is clear Anfernee Hardaway, Shaquille O’Neal, Dwight Howard, Tracy McGrady and Grant Hill made the squad. In one shot with the Magic playing against the all-time Philadelphia 76ers, all five of these great Magic players are seen in the shot.

The trailer features multiple shots of O’Neal in a Magic uniform. O’Neal (in a Miami Heat uniform) is the featured player on the game’s “Gold” edition.

The important clue to get from this is that players will make appearances for multiple teams. The trailer shows LeBron James in both a Cleveland Cavaliers uniform and a Miami Heat uniform. 2K already revealed O’Neal as a member of the Lakers’ all-time team. But the trailer features O’Neal prominently in a Magic uniform (just not the original pinstripes, which again is weird).

Next: Top 5 NBA JAM duos for 2018 Orlando Magic

Now that we know five of the players that made the all-time Magic team, who else makes it?