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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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Hedo Turkoglu, Orlando Magic
Hedo Turkoglu helped change the NBA as a ball-handling big who hit big shots in the Orlando Magic’s Finals run. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Orlando Magic All-2000s Team

Bench Rotation Frontcourt

Small Forward: Hedo Turkoglu

5 seasons, 377 games played, 302 starts, 15.7 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 3.6 APG, 38.5% 3FG%

Hedo Turkoglu has a strong resume to argue he should be the starting small forward for this roster. But the All-Star selection gives Grant Hill the advantage.

Turkoglu also played five seasons during this era of Magic basketball. He came to Orlando after some successful seasons playing for playoff teams like the Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs.

His initial year on the Magic, Turkoglu mostly played a reserve role but he increased his scoring average significantly from the season prior. He played a similar amount of minutes as he did the year before but scored 4.8 more points per outing.

He was the third leading scorer in his first season behind Grant Hill and Steve Francis. It was a combination of Hill’s sports hernia injury and Turkoglu breaking his arm that likely cost the Magic a playoff spot in 2005.

The following season, coach Brian Hill gave Hedo Turkoglu more responsibility with the team.

Turkoglu went on to start 59 games the next season and averaged 14.9 points, 2.8 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game. He was the second leading scorer behind Dwight Howard that season and seemed to be the playmaker and outside shooter the Magic needed to pair with their ascending big man.

His best season was the 2008 year. He started and played in all 82 games. He averaged 19.5 points with 5.0 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game.  Orlando won 52 games that year to clinch the third seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs.

He went on to win the NBA’s Most Improved Player that season and saw an increase of 6.2 points per game from the previous season. Magic fans still question why he wasn’t selected as an All Star.

During the playoffs, Turkoglu excelled in 10 games, averaging 17.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 5.5 assists. The Magic advanced to the second round for the first time since the 1996 season.

This was a major feat for a young team that had rebuilt around Dwight Howard, and Turkoglu really was the “Turk-O-Glue” to the roster.

The Finals run in 20’09 was his last season during the 2000s for Orlando, as the team clinched the third seed again for the postseason. Turkoglu scored 15.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game through 24 games to the championship.

Turkoglu gave the offense another weapon who could not only score but facilitate the pick-and-roll with Howard. Turkoglu could get past bigger defenders on drives, shoot over smaller defenders with fadeaways and pullups or throw tight-window passes and lobs to Howard.

Turkoglu only missed 33 games in five seasons and made a living scoring the basketball for Orlando. During this era he never averaged less than 13.3 points during the regular season and is riddled throughout Magic career stat leaders.

Power Forward: Pat Garrity

8 seasons, 431 games, 97 starts, 7.4 PPG, 2.7 RPG

2000-03: 10.0 PPG, 41.9% 3FG%

Pat Garrity was a staple of the 2000s for the Orlando Magic, playing eight out of the 10 available seasons in the decade. He mostly was a backup player during the last five years he played in Orlando, but he was productive in his first three seasons.

In his second year in Orlando, he played a reserve role during the season as a scorer off the bench. Garrity averaged the fifth-most points per game in the 2001 season even though he was eighth in minutes per game.

The Magic made the playoffs during that season and he scored 12.0 points per game and shot a blistering 50 percent from three through those four games. Not only was averaging this percentage an impressive feat, but he was doing so on 5.0 attempts per game.

Garrity was one of the more dangerous shooters in the league and that proved to be a challenge at his size as one of the few stretch-4s in the league.

Garrity started to increase his level of play during the 2002 season, where he played in 81 games and started in 53. He scored 11.1 points with 4.2 rebounds per game. Those are both career highs.

He was one of the first stretch-4s who primarily was used as a three-point shooter. He shot better than 50 percent of his total field goals from behind the arc from 2001-03.

Garrity’s numbers might not pop off the box score, but he was a key offensive weapon and found a home with the Magic.

There are five players who have played nine or more seasons for the Orlando Magic. Those are Nick Anderson, Jameer Nelson, Nikola Vucevic, Darrell Armstrong, and Pat Garrity.

Center: Tony Battie

4 seasons, 306 games, 183 starts, 5.9 PPG, 5 RPG

Tony Battie started the most games for the Orlando Magic during the 2000s behind Dwight Howard, so it makes sense that he would be his backup on the list.

He always played within himself and focused his attention on playing defense and guarding the pick-and-roll. Battie also based his career on setting screens and finishing at the rim.

In his first season with the Magic, he played in 81 games and mostly played the backup center position behind Kelvin Cato. He averaged 4.9 points and 5.6 rebounds per game that season.

The next year, after Cato’s departure, Battie was the starting center alongside Howard and played in all 82 games. He averaged the most points per game since his rookie season, averaging 7.9 points.

Battie and Howard formed a formidable duo in the paint protecting the rim and rebounding the basketball. But as Dwight Howard gained muscle mass, coach Brian Hill determined Tony Battie need to switch to the power forward position.

Battie started 66 games the following season at power forward for the Magic and was a key piece to their first playoff berth since Tracy McGrady’s exit.

He was unable to suit up during the 2008 season due to a shoulder injury. But that shoulder injury ultimately forced the Magic to play Rashard Lewis at power forward and “accidentally” powered the team’s championship ascendance.

Battie played one final season for the Magic as a backup power forward during the 2009 Finals run, ultimately ceding the center role to Marcin Gortat. Battie played in 77 games in 2009 and 21 games in the playoffs as Orlando made their postseason run.

Battie was a pivotal role model for Howard during this era in Magic basketball and played some of his best basketball of his career in Orlando.