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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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Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
PHOENIX – FEBRUARY 14: Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic emerges from a phone booth wearing a Superman cape during the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest on All-Star Saturday Night, part of 2009 NBA All-Star Weekend at US Airways Center on February 14, 2009 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

6. Dwight Howard (2005-12)

Dwight Howard is in one sense the most popular player in Orlando Magic history.

He hosted a barbecue during the lockout that drew thousands of fans for a celebration. He there announced he was planning to stay in Orlando and build the team back to a championship team. Howard leads the team in All-Star appearances (six) and took the Magic further than anyone before him (one Finals win, but still).

In Orlando, he was truly likable. He was the guy who did not take the game too seriously (but he did) and had joy in the way he played. He dominated the league defensively and was a terror, able to blow up pick and rolls with his athleticism and then get back to block the shot or grab the rebound.

The rest of the world attacked Howard for his smile and his on-court demeanor. He was not Kobe Bryant, he did not have a scowl on his face. He beat you with a smile. Then they criticized him for his lack of post game, even though he did not need a traditional back-to-the-basket attack. What he had worked.

And Magic fans were willing to defend him to the death. They did not understand our star. Especially as the Magic kept winning and stunned the basketball world getting so close to the title.

Maybe if Howard were in a bigger market he would have won the MVP in 2011. It certainly feels like Dwight Howard had the better year than Derrick Rose that season.

On the other hand, Howard is the most hated player in Magic history.

The same reason everyone loved Howard became part of his downfall. The selling of “Loyalty” shirts when Howard opted into his contract after the Dwightmare season was a bit premature. The way he pulled and twisted with fans’ emotions hurt everyone.

Eventually, he made the decision he had to leave and it was probably the correct one. But the will-he, won’t-he killed much of the goodwill he had built in Orlando. It certainly killed all the goodwill he might have had around the league.

Howard will probably rise in this list as history gives some distance between the present and his departure from the team. The warm feelings will return, as longtime fans will likely see as this list continues.