Orlando Magic Top 30: The Most Under-Appreciated Player in Orlando Magic History
8. Nick Anderson (1990-99)
Like Pat Garrity in an earlier slide, you will not be able to find an Orlando Magic fan who does not love Nick Anderson.
To Magic fans, he is the original player — the first guy the Magic could truly call their own. He is the man who stole the ball from Michael Jordan and became the team’s first 50-point scorer.
He is still a big presence in the community and with the team as a community ambassador. It was a sad thing when he was not part of the organization — an Orlando Sentinel article that came out a few years after he retired saying he was living in Atlanta hoping the Magic would give him something to do.
He has certainly done plenty to keep everyone in front of mind since he took on that role. He is still beloved among Magic fans.
Anderson has gotten plenty of appreciation in that sense. He was the first player inducted into the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame, a must since he was the original player and for the longest time its longest-tenured player.
Yet, it still does not seem like it is enough.
Related Story. 5 Orlando Magic Alums who have next for the Hall of Fame. light
It has been nearly 20 years since the Magic traded him to end its connection with the 1995 Finals team officially. There is a whole generation of fans who may not know Anderson much outside of the highlight videos before games and NBA 2K.
Or worse, they may really only know him as the hero in Game 1 of the 1995 Eastern Conference Semifinals as equally as they know him as the guy who missed four free throws in Game 1 of the 1995 NBA Finals.
True Magic fans know Anderson did that. There is no erasing it. But it does not change how they view him. That moment does not define him for the Magic franchise.
It still feels like Anderson is forgotten for how good he was — an ace defender and one of the original low-post guards.
It feels more and more as time moves away from Anderson’s playing career, there should be some kind of recognition for his time and service with the team. The Hall of Fame is a nice touch. But it is so far removed from where fans can engage with it.
If the Magic do start retiring jerseys, it really feels like Anderson’s No. 25 should be up in the rafters in the main arena bowl so everyone can understand how important he was to the franchise.
There may never be a way to properly appreciate Anderson.