In 1989, the Magic became the first major league professional sports franchise in Orlando. Despite having a solid roster in Dennis Scott, Scott Skiles, and Nick Anderson, they were still looking for the right puzzle pieces to put them on the map.
After the Magic's 1991-92 season of 21 wins to 61 losses, they won the 1992 Draft Lottery for the #1 pick. So it was an obvious decision on May 17, 1992, that they would choose the big man Shaquille O'Neal. Shaq led the Magic to their first .500 season (41-41), but were just short of the Playoffs. He also won the Rookie of the Year award.
Despite their 20 game improvement from the previous season, the Magic again won the 1993 Draft Lottery #1 pick. Orlando drafted the Michigan Fab 5's Chris Webber, but traded for Golden State's #3 pick Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway. The young duo would help the Magic reach the Playoffs for the first time with a 50-32 record. Shaq had 15 blocks against the Nets and brought down a couple backboards that year. But the Magic were swept in the first round of the Playoffs by the Indiana Pacers.
In the 1994-95 season, the Magic aquired the Bulls All-Star forward Horace Grant (and his awesome goggles), and the Magic would improve to a 57 win to 25 loss season. They fought their way through the Celtics and Bulls in the first two rounds of the Playoffs, and made it all the way to the Finals after defeating the Pacers in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Unfortunately Hakeem Olajuwon and his Houston Rockets were too much for the young Magic Squad, sweeping them 4 games to 0.
The Shaq and Penny duo was a dominant force in the East, but O'Neal had other plans as he made his way west for LA. The Magic did not return to the Finals until 2009 on the back of their new big-man, Dwight Howard. The Magic lost to the Lakers in Game 5, and are still on the hunt for their first championship.
Shaquille O'Neal announced retirement in 2011 after 19 years in the NBA and 4 Championships.
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