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Orlando Magic Best of the Decade: All-2000s Team

By Harrison Brown

ORLANDO, FL - MAY 16: (L-R) Jameer Nelson #14, J.J. Redick #7, Rashard Lewis #9, Vince Carter #15 and Dwight Howard #12 of the Orlando Magic huddle up against the Boston Celtics in Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2010 NBA Playoffs at Amway Arena on May 16, 2010 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - MAY 16: (L-R) Jameer Nelson #14, J.J. Redick #7, Rashard Lewis #9, Vince Carter #15 and Dwight Howard #12 of the Orlando Magic huddle up against the Boston Celtics in Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2010 NBA Playoffs at Amway Arena on May 16, 2010 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Jameer Nelson, Orlando Magic
Acquired in a draft day trade, Jameer Nelson proved to be a catalyst for the Orlando Magic’s growth throughout the 2000s. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Orlando Magic All-2000s Team

Starting Point Guard: Jameer Nelson

6 seasons, 394 games, 299 starts, 12.8 PPG, 4.8 APG, 38.7% 3FG%

Jameer Nelson played six seasons during this decade and was pivotal to the Orlando Magic heading to the NBA Finals in 2009 (earning an All-Star bid that season before a shoulder injury cut his season short).

The 20th overall selection in the 2004 NBA Draft, Jameer Nelson started his career as a backup for Steve Francis. In his rookie season he averaged 20.4 minutes per game and averaged a mere 8.7 points per game. This was the lowest average in his Magic tenure.

Pretty soon though, he would demand playing time and forced the Magic to move on from the former All-Star point guard whom they acquired in the Tracy McGrady deal.

The next two seasons he began to see an increase in minutes as his productivity improved drastically. He averaged 13.8 points per game and proved his ability to be a playmaker averaging 4.6 assists per game. He started to gel with the young Dwight Howard as their improvement sparked Orlando’s success for the coming years.

In 2008, he cemented himself as the full-time starter and future at the point guard position for Orlando. His shot started to take form as he was knocking down 41.6 percent of his threes and forming chemistry with his teammates.

He was selected as an All-Star in the 2009 season averaging a career-high 16.7 points per game, but injuries limited him to 42 games that season. Nelson was becoming an offensive threat on one of the better offenses in the NBA.

All Magic fans probably still wonder how that season would have ended if Nelson was able to play in the finals at full strength against the Lakers. He only played in the NBA Finals after he recovered from his February shoulder injury and then shouldered much of the blame for coming back too quickly and disrupting the chemistry that propelled the Magic to the Finals.

The year after the Finals appearance, Nelson had an excellent season. He stayed relatively healthy, starting in 64 games for Orlando, but he really excelled in the playoffs.

Nelson started in all 14 games the Magic played that postseason, averaging 19.0 points per game. Orlando swept the first and second series of the playoffs in the 2010 season and lost to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Even though the Magic did not complete the ultimate goal of winning a championship, Nelson is in the conversation for the best point guard in Magic history and is one of eight players to receive an All-Star selection who have suited up for Orlando.