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4 things Orlando Magic fans want to see in the 35th anniversary season

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - APRIL 02: Wendell Carter Jr. #34 of the Orlando Magic looks on during the first half of a game against the Detroit Pistons at the Amway Center on April 02, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. 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 James Gilbert/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - APRIL 02: Wendell Carter Jr. #34 of the Orlando Magic looks on during the first half of a game against the Detroit Pistons at the Amway Center on April 02, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. 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 James Gilbert/Getty Images) /
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Apr 5, 2019; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) boxes out Atlanta Hawks center Deyonta Davis (4) during the second quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

5 things Orlando Magic want to see in the 35th anniversary season

Throwback Jerseys!

If there is one thing Orlando Magic fans like to discuss more than anything, it is returning the Magic to the pinstripe jerseys.

The original logos and marks are something the Magic acknowledge are important to fans. They said as much in their press release in using the original streaking star basketball logo as part of the anniversary logo.

"“We know how important our history, the players, coaches and ownership is to our fans and supporters,” Alex Martins said in a press release Thursday. “Our classic logo is a great representation of that history and the fact that it is cherished by our fans. Honoring that fondness for the original logo, while celebrating this 35th season in the design, represents the manner in which we value our fans.”"

Of course, the big thing everybody wants to return is the traditional throwback jerseys. NBA rules say that once a jersey is retired, it can only be brought back for anniversary seasons.

Yes, the last time the Magic wore the pinstripe uniforms was when they wore the blue ones for the 2019 season — the team’s 30th anniversary year.

Orlando has cycled through the original pinstripe uniforms for nearly each anniversary season — beginning with introducing their second primary jerseys (the “Stars” jerseys) in their 10th anniversary season in 1999, reintroducing the black jerseys in 2004, wearing the white jerseys in 2009, going back to the black jerseys in 2014 and wearing the blue jerseys in 2019.

No one will complain if they bring back one of the original pinstripe jerseys for this year. But the rumor going around Magic fans — to which I have no information to confirm or deny — is the Magic will opt to bring back the Tracy McGrady-era stars jerseys for this year’s throwback uniform.

The Magic honored those jerseys with the star design on the side of their Statement Edition jerseys last year. So they are at least hinting that those jerseys would come into the rotation.

When I suggested that the Magic might go in this direction, Magic fans seem pretty excited about the possibility of wearing that era of Magic uniforms.

Either way, the Magic are going to get a fun historical jersey to wear. And everyone is excited to see them on the floor again. Even if everyone is pining for a return to the traditional pinstripes.