5 Orlando Magic alum who have next for the Basketball Hall of Fame

By Philip Rossman-Reich | Sep 14, 2018

ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 14: Anfernee Hardaway #1 and Horace Grant #54 of the Orlando Magic oversee the game against the Philadelphia 76ers played at the Orlando Arena on January 14, 1995 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 1995 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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Anfernee Hardaway, Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets

HOUSTON – JUNE 11: Anfernee Hardaway #1 of the Orlando Magic passes against Hakeem Olajuwon #34 of the Houston Rockets in Game Three of the 1995 NBA Finals at the Summitt on June 11, 1995 in Houston, Texas. The Rockets won 106-103. 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 1995 NBAE (Photo by Noren Trotman/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Anfernee Hardaway

Years with Magic: 1994-98

Basketball-Reference Hall of Fame Probability: 28.7%

For Orlando Magic fans, there is no doubt Anfernee Hardaway was a key piece to the team’s history. If Orlando retired jerseys, his No. 1 would be hanging in the rafters as one of the first players to receive that honor. He is a firm member of the team’s Mt. Rushmore.

Plainly put, there is no Magic history without Hardaway.

It was a shrewd move from general manager Pat Williams to trade down to take him at No. 3 in the 1993 NBA Draft and pair him with their young behemoth of a center in Shaquille O’Neal. The duo proved to be killer on the court. Orlando only needed two years after picking Hardaway to reach the NBA Finals and become one of the league’s elite teams — in just the sixth year of the franchise’s history.

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In fact, Hardaway’s arrival took the Magic from 41-41 and just missing the Playoffs to holding home-court advantage in his rookie year. Not too shabby.

At 6-foot-7, Hardaway revolutionized the point guard position. His mix of speed, athleticism and size was something the NBA had never really seen much to that point. Not with the ball in his hands. He was a matchup nightmare and dominated the league in a lot of ways.

When O’Neal left, Hardaway took over the scoring load. He had two of the best Playoff performances in Magic history with back-to-back 40-point games to extend the 1997 first round series with the second-seeded Miami Heat to a decisive fifth game.

Injuries are ultimately why Hardaway is not likely a Hall of Fame candidate. Shortly after O’Neal left, Hardaway experienced knee pain and would require several surgeries to correct it. Even in the 1997 season, Hardaway played just 59 games. He missed virtually all of the 1998 season.

While Hardaway averaged a robust 19.0 points per game, 6.3 assists per game and 4.7 rebounds per game, he never really made an impact after his first six seasons in Orlando. After leaving, he had just one more season averaging more than 15 points per game and three seasons averaging more than 10 points per game.

So despite the accolades — four All-Star Games and two All-NBA First Team appearances — Hardaway probably is not a Basketball Hall of Famer. He simply did not have the longevity of greatness. And while he was a transformative player, he was not transformative enough to be necessary to tell the story of basketball.