What we learned from Orlando Magic Madness 2020

The Final List

Back in 2016, we ranked the top 25 players in Orlando Magic history, polling our staff to come up with a final list. Using that list as a base plus the results of Magic Madness this year, let’s come up with a rough list of the 64-best players in Magic history:

Top Tier — The GOATs

1. Shaquille O’Neal . . . 2. Dwight Howard . . . 3. Tracy McGrady . . . 4. Anfernee Hardaway

There is no debating the top players in Magic history.

Among these four players, they consist of all the All-NBA team appearance sin team history. Two Hall of Fame players (plus one that is a shoo-in to get in when he retires). And then another who would have gotten in if not for injury.

These are the players who define each era of Magic history. And nobody has broken anywhere near this group quite yet.

Second Tier — The Legends

5. Nick Anderson . . . 6. Jameer Nelson . . . 7. Hedo Turkoglu . . . 8. Darrell Armstrong . . . 9. Rashard Lewis . . . 10. Bo Outlaw

Even though Jameer Nelson beat Nick Anderson in our poll, I still go with Anderson over him in the final ranking. Pretty much every ranking that exists would place Anderson on top of Nelson. Nelson is a strong player no doubt and has the All-Star bid in his back pocket. But Anderson was so good and was really the team’s first star with his 1992 and 1993 seasons.

The other players are also so key to the franchise’s history. From Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis leading the team through the 2009 Playoffs and revolutionizing the NBA to Darrell Armstrong and Bo Outlaw’s Heart and Hustle season.

These are the players who are legendary in Magic history and always have a home here. They should be in the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame although for most, their jerseys would fall short of retirement.

Third Tier — The Stalwarts

11. Horace Grant . . . 12. Dennis Scott. . . 13. Vince Carter . . . 14. Scott Skiles . . . 15. Grant Hill . . . 16. Nikola Vucevic . . . 17. Steve Francis

These players were the elite role players in Magic history. Horace Grant was the ultimate role player, giving the Magic strong defense and veteran presence. He was instrumental in the Magic getting to the Finals.

Then Dennis Scott helped revolutionize 3-point shooting in the 1990s. He was the best floor spacer for those 1990s team. Just as Scott Skiles delivered toughness throughout the early part of the Magic’s franchise.

The other players in this era are guys who did not live up to expectations or just could not click with fans. Nikola Vucevic should be among the best 10 players in Magic history. And part of his low ranking is because I based this list off the 2016 list. He has gotten better since then. Although he remains extremely unpopular among a certain section of Magic fans.

Fourth Tier — The Promised

18. Mike Miller . . . 19. Aaron Gordon . . . 20. J.J. Redick . . . 21. Evan Fournier . . . 22. Victor Oaldipo . . . 23. Tobias Harris

These players all had — or still have a ton of promise — that was not quite lived up to. The Orlando Magic traded Mike Miller too soon before he really established himself as a solid player. Victor Oladipo and Tobias Harris both failed to live up to their potential — in Orlando at least.

Evan Fournier and J.J. Redick have both developed into solid players in a Magic uniform. They both played vital roles for playoff teams. And they both probably had to do a bit more than their talents would allow at certain points in their Magic careers.

Fifth Tier — The Best Role Players

24. Mickael Pietrus . . . 25. Cuttino Mobley . . . 26. Terry Catledge . . . 27. Rony Seikaly . . . 28. Pat Garrity . . . 29. Ryan Anderson . . . 30. Reggie Theus

The best role players are guys who understand their role and do it to perfection. A lot of these players fit that bill.

Mickael Pietrus, Cuttino Mobley, Pat Garrity and Ryan Anderson were some of the best 3-point shooters in Magic history. They all hit huge shots throughout their careers in Orlando. They remain some of the best shooters in team history.

Terry Catledge was a great post player and rebounder in the first years of the franchise. Reggie Theus was one of the great early players for the team. And Rony Seikaly had a solid 1997 season with Orlando.

Sixth Tier — The Rest

31. Jeff Turner . . . 32. Drew Gooden . . . 33. Sam Vincent . . . 34. Juwan Howard . . . 35. Terrence Ross

36. Jason Richardson . . . 37. D.J. Augustin . . . 38. Arron Afflalo . . . 39. Jonathan Isaac . . . 40. Donald Royal

41. Glen Davis . . . 42. Ron Mercer . . . 43. Anthony Bowie . . . 44. Jerry Reynolds . . . 45. Matt Barnes

46. DeShawn Stevenson . . . 47. Rafer Alston . . . 48. Brian Shaw . . . 49. Markelle Fultz . . . 50. Monty Williams

51. John Amaechi . . . 52. Serge Ibaka . . . 53. Elfrid Payton . . . 54. Otis Smith . . . 55. Courtney Lee

56. Keyon Dooling . . . 57. Keith Bogans . . . 58. Chris Gatling . . . 59. Matt Harpring . . . 60. Gordan Giricek

61. Sidney Green . . . 62. Maurice Evans . . . 63. Corey Maggette . . . 64. Stanley Roberts

That is our unscientific list for now. I hope everyone enjoyed our Magic Madness diversion!