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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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Reggie Theus, Orlando Magic
ORLANDO, FL – 1991: Reggie Theus #24 of the Orlando Magic runs out before a game circa 1991 at the 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 1991 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. BernsteinNBAE via Getty Images) /

28. Reggie Theus (1990)

The excitement of the Orlando Magic’s expansion season overwhelmed any thought of the players on the team. There were definitely some gems who quickly endeared themselves to fans that year. But everything was so new, the whole team was treated as royalty.

Nick Anderson, Scott Skiles and Jeff Turner all gained their own pockets of popularity (stay tuned to this list) in the coming years. But they were all bit players in that expansion year. Otis Smith too was a hard-working quasi-local who would help create plenty of memories in that first year.

The star attraction, if anything was, in that first year was Reggie Theus.

The man made the jerry curl look good in pure 1980s fashion and he was the veteran and best player on the team that first year. Or at least its most consistent.

Theus was two years removed from averaging 20 points per game with the Atlanta Hawks. He would lead the team in scoring with 18.9 points per game that lone year in Orlando. He would be out of the league within a year after that, although his production never tailed off.

Theus became famous for plenty off the court — including that quintessential 1980s haircut.

According to his Wikipedia page, he hosted a local talk show in Orlando and shortly after retiring he would star in the TV show Hang Time. Theus was a dynamic personality and added plenty of flair to that expansion year.