The Orlando Magic were part of a round of NBA expansion prior to the 1989-90 NBA season. Before the new NBA franchise took to the court, a number of notable developments and dates occurred:
- October 19, 1988: The Orlando Magic unveiled their uniforms. The home uniform consisted of white with black pinstripes with blue accents. The away uniforms are unveiled to be black uniforms consisting of white pinstripes and blue trim.
- October 31, 1988: The Orlando Magic mascot, Stuff, is unveiled.
- January 20, 1989: David Steele is hired to be the radio voice of the Orlando Magic
- May 1, 1989: Paul Porter is hired to be the public address announcer at Orlando Magic games.
- July 10, 1989: Chip Caray is hired to be the television voice of the Orlando Magic.
The First Roster and First Game
On June 15, 1989, the Orlando Magic made 12 selections in the 1989 NBA Expansion Draft. These players were:
- Sidney Green (New York)
- Reggie Theus (Atlanta)
- Terry Catledge (Washington)
- Sam Vincent (Chicago)
- Otis Smith (Golden State)
- Scott Skiles (Indiana)
- Jerry Reynolds (Seattle)
- Mark Acres (Boston)
- Morlon Wiley (Dallas)
- Jim Farmer (Utah)
- Keith Lee (New Jersey)
- Frank Johnson (Houston)
At the NBA Draft on June 27, 1989, the Orlando Magic drafted Nick Anderson from the University of Illinois with the 11th overall pick in the 1989 NBA Draft. The Magic also drafted Michael Ansley and acquired Dave Corzine in a draft night trade from the Bulls.
The Orlando Magic played its first preseason game against the Detroit Pistons on October 13, 1989.
The first regular season game for the Orlando Magic came on November 4, 1989 against the New Jersey Nets.
Other Notable Orlando Magic Dates
- December 30, 1990: Scott Skiles breaks the NBA’s single game assist record with 30 assists against the Denver Nuggets.
- September 19, 1991: The DeVos family purchases the Orlando Magic.
- May 17, 1992: The Magic win the NBA Draft lottery and will receive the first pick in the forthcoming NBA Draft.
- June 24, 1992: The Orlando Magic select Shaquille O’Neal with the no. 1 overall pick of the 1992 NBA Draft.
- May 23, 1993: The Magic win the NBA Draft lottery for the second year in a row.
- June 30, 1993: The Magic select Chris Webber with the first overall pick, and minutes later, trade him to the Golden State Warriors for Penny Hardaway and three future first picks. Brian Hill is also named head coach.
- April 8, 1994: The Orlando Magic clinch their first ever playoff berth with a win over the Detroit Pistons.
- February 12, 1995: Orlando Magic stars Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway both play in the NBA All-Star Game with Magic head coach Brian Hill coaching in the game as well.
- May 7, 1995: “The Steal” – Nick Anderson steals the ball from Michael Jordan in a famous moment from the Eastern Conference Semifinals, leading to a game-sealing Horace Grant dunk with seconds remaining. The Magic would go on to beat the Bulls and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
- June 4, 1995: The Magic defeat the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals and advance to the NBA FInals. The Magic are the second fastest NBA franchise to reach the NBA Finals in league history.
- July 18, 1996: Shaquille O’Neal signs with the Los Angeles Lakers, leaving the Orlando Magic.
- June 3, 1997: Chuck Daly is named head coach of the Orlando Magic.
- April 17, 1998: Chip Caray calls his last game for the Magic, concluding nine seasons. David Steele is named as Caray’s replacement on Magic TV broadcasts.
- June 7, 1999: Doc Rivers is named head coach of the Orlando Magic.
- August 3, 1999: Nick Anderson, the last remaining player from the inaugural Orlando Magic roster is traded to Sacramento.
- August 3, 2000: The Orlando Magic sign free agents Tracy McGrady and Grant Hill.
- May 6, 2003: Tracy McGrady sets the all-time Orlando Magic record for points in a single season with 2407. he is the 6th player in NBA history to average at least 30 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists in a season.
- March 10, 2004: Tracy McGrady sets the Magic record for points in a single game with 62 against Washington.
- June 24, 2004: The Orlando Magic draft Dwight Howard with the no. 1 overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft.
- May 24, 2005: Brian Hill is named the Orlando Magic head coach for the second time.
- June 7, 2007: Stan Van Gundy is named Orlando Magic head coach.
- July 11, 2007: The Orlando Magic acquire Rashard Lewis.
- February 16, 2008: Dwight Howard wins the NBA Dunk Contest.
- January 13, 2009: The Magic hit an NBA record 23 three-point field goals against the Sacramento Kings.
- January 29, 2009: The Orlando Magic have three players in the NBA All-Star Game for the first time: Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis and Jameer Nelson.
- April 21, 2009: Dwight Howard is becomes the first Magic player ever to win the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award.
- May 30, 2009: The Magic defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals and go to the NBA Finals for the second time in franchise history.
- December 31, 2012: Nikola Vucevic sets the franchise record of 29 rebounds against Miami.
- May 29, 2015: Scott Skiles is named head coach of the Orlando Magic.
- May 20, 2016: Frank Vogel is named head coach of the Orlando Magic.
- May 23, 2017: The Orlando Magic name Jeff Weltman as president of basketball operations.
- May 30, 2018: Steve Clifford is named Orlando Magic head coach.
- April 7, 2019: The Orlando Magic clinch a spot in the NBA Playoffs for the first time since the 2011-12 season.
- July 11, 2021: Jamahl Mosley is named Orlando Magic head coach.
- July 29, 2021: The Orlando Magic select Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner with the 5th and 8th picks of the 2021 NBA Draft.
- June 23, 2022: The Orlando Magic select Paolo Banchero with the first pick of the 2022 NBA Draft.
Memorable Moments from Orlando Magic History
May 7, 1995: “The Steal”
One of the most well known moments in Orlando Magic history, Nick Anderson gets the steal from Michael Jordan in the NBA Playoffs.
February 9, 2007: Dwight’s “Alley-Oop” from Out-of-Bounds
All tied against San Antonio with less than a second remaining on the clock. the Magic inbound the ball directly into the big man, Dwight Howard, who gets the dunk and the win.
February 7, 2014: The Tobias Harris Dunk
In the closing seconds against Oklahoma City, the Orlando Magic’s Tobias Harris scores a buzzer-beating dunk to get the victory in front of the Orlando home crowd.