Orlando Magic Top 30: The Most Under-Appreciated Player in Orlando Magic History
15. Tony Battie (2005-09)
Tony Battie likely will not be remembered as a key member of the 2009 NBA Finals team. By that time he was out of the rotation, passed over by Marcin Gortat and his ascendance into the rotation.
For a while though, Tony Battie was as influential and important as any player on the roster. He was a grinder who did the dirty work and never complained about shots. He just defended and stayed in the ear of a young rookie in Dwight Howard.
Of course, his bigger claim to fame within the course of Magic history is what happened when got injured in 2007.
Before that 2008 season, Battie was defending Howard as he often did in practice and tore his rotator cuff. Without much depth at power forward, the team was forced to use Rashard Lewis at power forward. That proved to be a game-changing decision and transformed the Magic into one of the best teams in the league.
Battie was the kind of player and person who did not complain. He was willing to sacrifice himself for the team. And he just was a workhorse, getting rebounds and defending over scoring. Although he could step out and hit jumpers pretty well for a player of his size.
Battie’s biggest contribution came behind the scenes too. He was instrumental in helping Howard develop and giving him a solid veteran to lean on.
Tony Battie was the veteran leader for Dwight and taught him a lot about post defense and pick and roll defense
— Rayshard❼ ( Jett Black SZN👑 ) (@Rayshard07) August 17, 2019
As much as Howard was probably personally upset the team traded Courtney Lee to the New Jersey Nets in the Vince Carter trade, it was losing Tony Battie that probably hurt him just as much. Although Howard had become a star already by that point and maybe did not need a veteran in his ear.
Battie did not contribute much statistically. But it is undoubted his importance to this team and this franchise in becoming the championship-contending team they would become.