Orlando Magic · Franchise era 1 of 7
Expansion in Orlando: the Orlando Magic story
Franchise era
1989–90—1991–92
Expansion in Orlando
Orlando Magic
The story in one sentence
The Magic endured three expansion seasons while assembling the guards and shooters who would complement a transformative draft pick.
A young market waits for a lottery break
Nick Anderson, Scott Skiles and Dennis Scott gave the era its recognizable core.
Its ending created the conditions for shaq and penny.
Timeline
How it unfolded
The foundation
The franchise context
Orlando has repeatedly found elite big men—Shaquille O'Neal, Dwight Howard and now Paolo Banchero—building sudden contenders around size and youthful ambition.
1989–90—1991–92
Expansion in Orlando
The Magic endured three expansion seasons while assembling the guards and shooters who would complement a transformative draft pick.
After 1991–92
What came next
O'Neal and Hardaway made Orlando an instant phenomenon and reached the 1995 Finals before the partnership ended abruptly.
The core