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Orlando Magic Top 30: The Most Popular Player in Orlando Magic history

By Philip Rossman-Reich

BOSTON, MA - 1994: Dennis Scott #3, Anfernee Hardaway #1, Shaquille O'Neal #32, Nick Anderson #25, and Jeff Turner #31 of the Orlando Magic return to the court during a game played circa 1994 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - 1994: Dennis Scott #3, Anfernee Hardaway #1, Shaquille O'Neal #32, Nick Anderson #25, and Jeff Turner #31 of the Orlando Magic return to the court during a game played circa 1994 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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19. Rafer Alston (2009)

At the trade deadline in 2009, the Orlando Magic were desperate.

Jameer Nelson was out with a shoulder injury. They quickly acquired Tyronn Lue, but it was clear he and Anthony Johnson were not going to be able to carry the load. The team’s early title dreams were quickly dashed.

That is when Orlando acquired Rafer Alston, and everything seemed saved.

Alston was not at Nelson’s level. But he was good enough. He could hit an open shot and was a great playmaker and passer. He gave the team a bit of a nasty streak in the playoffs that helped turn the tables in the Playoffs. Particularly early on in the series against the Boston Celtics.

Alston is involved perhaps in one of the greatest what-ifs in Magic history.

Despite leading the team to the Finals through the Playoffs, and starting every Finals game, the Magic clearly started turning more toward Nelson in the 2009 NBA Finals. It created some tension. Alston averaged 12.2 points and 4.1 assists per game in 32.2 minutes per game for the entire Playoffs. In the Finals, he averaged 10.6 points and 3.0 assists per game in 29.5 minutes per game.

That little drop was enough to throw the Magic off kilter. Nelson was fighting his way back from injury in the biggest moment. And Alston was not getting the rhythm that helped Orlando get to that point.

In this case then, Alston gained popularity for what happened in defeat. Probably unfairly, Stan Van Gundy’s decision to go back to Nelson in that series is viewed as a deciding factor. It made Alston the hero.

Regardless of that debate, Alston is a major contributing factor to the Magic’s dream run to the 2009 Finals. And someone Magic fans were happy to see and remember.