The Orlando Magic, an National Basketball Association (NBA) franchise, is based in Orlando, Florida. The Magic are a member of the Eastern Conference’s Southeast Division. The franchise is noted as one of the ten NBA franchises currently in the association that has never won the NBA title.
However, they are also among the youngest franchises in the NBA. They were a part of a wave of expansion in the late 1980s that included the Miami Heat, the Charlotte Hornets, and the Minnesota Timberwolves. To date, only one of these teams has won an NBA title (ie. Miami has won three).
Orlando’s famed historical players include Shaquille O’Neal, who originally entered the league as a Magic draft pick. Furthermore, they have had Penny Hardaway, Nick Anderson, Grant Hill, Tracy McGrady, and Dwight Howard as part of various rosters over the years.
The team has appeared in the NBA playoffs 16 times. While they have no titles, they have reached the NBA Finals twice, including once during the short Shaquille O’Neal era. That makes the Magic the second-most successful franchise of the quartet of teams from the late 1980s NBA-expansion period.
Orlando, Florida doesn’t have any major-league level sports franchises except for the Magic (ie. no representation in MLB, NHL, or the NFL). The city is associated with Walt Disney World, which is located in the Orlando greater area in Kissimmee, Florida. The Magic became the first major-league professional sports franchise in the Orlando area following efforts that started in the mid-1980s. The Magic play their home games in the Amway Center in Orlando.
Interesting Fact
The Magic franchise is one of four in the NBA that doesn’t have the plural morpheme “s” at the end of the team’s nickname. The others are the Heat, the Thunder, and the Jazz.
When Michael Jordan attempted his comeback in the 1994/95 season, after a brief fascination with pursuing a baseball career, his Chicago Bulls bumped into Shaquille O’Neal’s Orlando team. The Magic won the series 4-2 and it would mark the only series-loss for a Jordan team over an eight-year period. In the previous season, Michael Jordan did not play. In the other six seasons, Jordan’s Bulls won the NBA title.
Orlando Magic: Management and Coaching
Orlando Magic: Management and Coaching
Owners: RDV Sports
President: Jeff Weltman
CEO: Alex Martins
Head Coach: Jamahl Mosley
Orlando Magic and the 2023 NBA Draft
The Orlando Magic did not make the NBA playoffs in the 2022/23 NBA season. They had some draft picks in the 2023 NBA Draft, which took place on June 22nd, 2023.
With the 6th overall pick, the Magic took Anthony Black, a PG/SG. With the 11th overall pick, the Magic took Jett Howard, a small forward. With the 36th overall pick, the Magic selected Andre Jackson Jr., a shooting guard. The latter was traded to Milwaukee while the two former players will join an already youthful team, pending any further transactions.
Orlando Magic and the 2023/24 NBA Season Preview
The success of the Orlando Magic in the upcoming season will have a lot to do with Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Anthony Black. The Magic had a surprising season last season, one where they managed to win 34 games, about ten more than most projected during the preseason. Banchero and Wagner can be expected to continue to improve. If their highest pick from the most recent draft, Anthony Black, turns out to be playable during his rookie season, then Orlando might challenge for a play-in tournament spot. But the team currently does not have much in the center position and the bench depth is questionable.
Current Orlando Magic Players under Contract
- Jonathan Isaac
- Paolo Banchero
- Markelle Fultz
- Wendell Carter Jr.
- Jalen Suggs
- Gary Harris
- Franz Wagner
- Cole Anthony
- Chuma Okeke
- Caleb Houstan
- Bol Bol
- Michael Carter-Williams
- Goga Bitadza
- Admiral Schofield
- Kevon Harris
Key Current Orlando Magic Free Agents
The Magic do not have any key free agents as of late June 2023.
Previous Orlando Magic Draft Selections Since 2000
Year Round Pick Player Pos Age Pre-Draft Team
2023 1 6 Anthony Black PG/SG 19 Arkansas
2022 1 1 Paolo Banchero PF 19 Duke
2021 1 5 Jalen Suggs SG 20 Gonzaga
2021 1 8 Franz Wagner SF 19 Michigan
2021 2 33 Jason Preston G 21 Ohio
2020 1 15 Cole Anthony PG 20 North Carolina
2019 1 16 Chuma Okeke PF 20 Auburn
2019 2 46 Talen Tucker SF 18 Iowa State
2018 1 6 Mohamed Bamba C 20 Texas
2018 2 35 Melvin Frazier Jr. SF 21 Tulane
2018 2 41 Jarred Vanderbilt PF 19 Kentucky
2017 1 6 Jonathan Isaac SF 19 Central Florida
2017 1 25 Anzejs Pasecniks C 21 Gran Canaria
2017 2 33 Wesley Iwundu F 22 Kansas State
2016 2 47 Jake Layman SF 22 Maryland
2015 1 5 Mario Hezonja SG 20 FC Barcelona
2015 2 51 Tyler Harvey G 21 Eastern Washington
2014 1 4 Aaron Gordon F 18 Arizona
2014 1 12 Dario Saric SF 20 KK Cibona
2013 1 2 Victor Oladipo G 21 Indiana
2013 2 51 Romero Osby PF 23 Oklahoma
2012 2 49 Kyle O’Quinn F 22 Norfolk State
2011 2 53 DeAndre Liggins G 23 Kentucky
2010 1 29 Daniel Orton PF 19 Kentucky
2010 2 59 Stanley Robinson F 21 Connecticut
2008 1 22 Courtney Lee SG 22 Western Kentucky
2007 2 44 Reyshawn Terry PF 23 North Carolina
2006 1 11 J.J. Redick G 22 Duke
2006 2 41 James Augustine FC 22 Illinois
2006 2 44 Lior Eliyahu PF 20 Hapoel Galil Gilboa
2005 1 11 Fran Vazquez FC 22 Unicaja
2005 2 38 Travis Diener PG 23 Marquette
2004 1 1 Dwight Howard C 18 Southwest Atlanta
2004 2 30 Anderson Varejao C 21 Barca
2004 2 36 Antonio Burks G 24 Memphis
2003 1 15 Reece Gaines G 22 Louisville
2003 2 42 Zaza Pachulia C 19 Alpella B.K.
2002 1 18 Curtis Borchardt C 21 Stanford
2001 1 15 Steven Hunter F-C 19 DePaul
2001 1 22 Jeryl Sasser SG 22 Southern Methodist
2001 2 31 Omar Cook PG 19 St. John’s
2000 1 5 Mike Miller GF 20 Florida
2000 1 10 Keyon Dooling G 20 Missouri
2000 1 13 Courtney Alexander SG 23 Fresno State
Orlando Magic Players FAQ
Who is the Best Player on Orlando Magic?
The best Magic player of all time has been named Nick Anderson. The Orlando Magic’s first draft pick in franchise history is also the team’s best player.
Who is the Highest-Paid Player on the Orlando Magic?
Markelle Fultz is the highest paid player in the NBA market with a salary of $16,500,000.
What Draft Picks did Orlando Magic Have in 2021?
For the first time in the franchise history, the Magic for two top ten picks – and they weren’t wasted! Suggs was a shoo-in to be in the top four of an excellent draft class and they got him with pick number five, so he should bring some star quality to the Amway Center. They also had pick number 8, selecting Franz Wagner from Michigan and second round draft pick no.33, selecting Jason Preston. They were incredibly fortunate to get two top ten picks – as teams such as Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, Portland Trail Blazers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat got no first-round picks.
Who did the Magic Draft in 2005?
The Magic had 11th pick – and drafted Frann Vazquez and pick 38 in the second round, selecting Travis Diener. That year they also traded the rights to Martynas Andriuskevicius to the Cavs for a second-round draft pick and cash considerations.
