Orlando Magic Top 30: The Most Under-Appreciated Player in Orlando Magic History
6. Horace Grant (1995-99, 2002-03)
The Orlando Magic went far out of their way to sign Horace Grant. They gave up players and draft picks to get nothing in return and clear up cap room. it was one of the first times this strategy was used in the league.
In the summer of 1994, they understood they were on the precipice of something special with Shaquille O’Neal and Anfernee Hardaway making the playoffs for the first time. They needed a steady hand to help this young team through the playoff battles to come.
The former All-Star in Horace Grant was that answer. His arrival is credited with giving the team that veteran to show them how to prepare and make it through the playoffs.
I have to go for Horace Grant for this round. Grant had a lot of expertise in playoff games as a member of the 3-time champion Bulls in the early 90s. He was part of the Magic team that eliminated the Bulls during the 1995 Eastern Conference Semifinals.
— Ricardo J. Ortiz (@rjortiz26) August 21, 2019
I voted for Horace Grant because I believe his addition to this is what got us over the hump and into the finals. I'm not sure people give him enough for credit for what he brought to this team in the locker room and professionalism on the court.
— Andy's Magic Minute (@AndyMagicMinute) August 19, 2019
Me hg54 to me wasn't for him , magic make out east n finals . He was missing link to magic team 94-95 season
— swl9380 (@swl9380) August 20, 2019
Horace Grant easily. He made a couple All-Defense teams & almost averaged a DD playing alongside Shaq. Nick Anderson & Penny were the 3rd & 4th best rebounders the previous season.
— David Astramskas (@redapples) August 19, 2019
And they almost didn't get him b/c they were going after Danny Manning (even offered Dennis Scott) pic.twitter.com/WOx4Lw3EV3
https://twitter.com/JoshEberley/status/1163459326758944770
He must have been really happy to see the team come from behind to win Game 6 against the Chicago Bulls. He knew it was not a good idea for the young team to lift him on their shoulders after the series. He did it anyway and waved a towel to celebrate beating his former team and what at the time felt like a passing of the baton.
Horace Grant’s injury in the 1996 Eastern Conference Finals — along with Nick Anderson and Brian Shaw — helped the Bulls bury the Magic in a four-game sweep. That series should have been much closer if not for those critical injuries.
Grant’s tenure with the Magic is often talked about only in terms of the intangibles he brought to the team. There is rarely focus on what he actually did on the court.
He was not an All-Star like he was during Jordan’s 1994 sabbatical. He still averaged 12.1 points per game and 8.7 rebounds per game in his first five-year run with the team. He was a solid defender and a good enough shooter to space the floor.
He made everything work.