Orlando Magic Daily
Fansided

Ranking the Orlando Magic’s best performances at the All-Star Game

By Philip Rossman-Reich

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 17: Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards and Team LeBron shoots against Nikola Vu?evi? #9 of the Orlando Magic and Team Giannis during the NBA All-Star game as part of the 2019 NBA All-Star Weekend at Spectrum Center on February 17, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Team LeBron won 178-164. 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 Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 17: Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards and Team LeBron shoots against Nikola Vu?evi? #9 of the Orlando Magic and Team Giannis during the NBA All-Star game as part of the 2019 NBA All-Star Weekend at Spectrum Center on February 17, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Team LeBron won 178-164. 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 Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 12
Next
Anfernee Hardaway, Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic guard and NBA East All-Star Penny Hardaway works off the dribble during the 1998 NBA All-Star game at Madison Square Garden in New York City. (Gary Bogdon/Orlando Sentinel/TNS via Getty Images) /

21. 2001 Tracy McGrady

2 points, 1/4 FGs

There is probably not a worse performance in the All-Star Game than Tracy McGrady in his first All-Star Game. Making matters worse, he was a starter.

Young players in their first All-Star game typically have to sort of ease their way through the game. It is a different animal. And, especially for younger players, there is still a bit of awe on being on the same court as idols, heroes and colleagues.

Certainly, the All-Star Game forces players to be comfortable with who they are and their place in the NBA. And if they truly want to go for the MVP, they have to have the respect of the rest of the league to feed them the ball and give them that opportunity.

McGrady was not there yet in 2001.

The fans were showing respect for his game and he was beginning to emerge as the best scorer in the league. But he was not there yet among his peers. That likely had to start with his interactions with the league’s elite at this game.

It is still a lot to ask a young player to start his first All-Star Game, even when the ease of his scoring makes him tailor-made for this game. McGrady would have plenty more chances at the All-Star Game. And he had one of the best All-Star performances in Magic history.

But more on that later.

20. 1998 Anfernee Hardaway

6 points, 3/5 FGs, 12 minutes

By 1998, Anfernee Hardaway’s injuries were beginning to take their toll. He would play in only 19 games that season. He was still able to play in the All-Star Game as a starter. And gave the fans at least that much.

His time was limited — the first six minutes of each half. And he was doing his best not to further his injury. That was likely a request from the Magic.

So Hardaway was not very involved in the game at all. He made his appearance scored his points and then disappeared it seemed.

The sad part is that this was one of Hardaway’s last games in a Magic uniform. Hardaway would play just two more games in a Magic uniform before injuries would end his season. The chronic knee injury that would eventually sap the rest of his career became too much for him to overcome.

19. 2005 Grant Hill

6 points, 4 rebounds, 3/6 FGs

Grant Hill played in one game as a NBA All-Star in an Orlando Magic uniform. The fact he started the 2005 game is a testament to his extreme popularity. It lingered well past four years of constant and consistent injuries.

Hill was finally healthy this season, playing 67 games before a sports hernia injury derailed his and the Magic’s season. The first year without Tracy McGrady was not as rough as everyone remembers. Steve Francis and Grant Hill provided some stability as Dwight Howard continued to develop into a defensive monster (not to mention Hedo Turkoglu joined the team).

Hill averaged 19.7 points per game with a 51.1 percent effective field goal percentage. Should that have been good enough to earn a starting spot? Probably not. But he certainly deserved some All-Star consideration.

This was perhaps HIll’s best season in a Magic uniform overall.

But that does not mean he was about to risk it all in some exhibition game. Hill made his appearance in the game, playing just 17.5 minutes. But he did not overly exert himself. Good service for the fans that voted him in, but nothing to risk for the season that was still ahead.

18. 2011 Dwight Howard

5 points, 7 rebounds, 2/4 FGs

Dwight Howard had already established himself as one of the best big men in the entire league and a superstar when the 2011 All-Star Game came around. He had his big games and showings on that stage. There was not really much more for him to prove. Not to mention, it is extremely difficult for centers to assert themselves in this kind of game.

So no one should blame Howard in this one for easing back on the throttle. Especially with the Magic’s place in the Eastern Conference no longer assured as the Eastern Conference finalist team broke apart in December.

Howard made his appearance and scored a couple points and took a couple of 3-pointers. But there was not much else for him to do. This is what Howard going through the motions kind of looks like. And despite leading the Eastern Conference in All-Star voting, Howard was not the center of attention in this game.

No one seemed to be complaining.