The 1996-97 Orlando Magic season marked a transitional period for the franchise, following the departure of key player Shaquille O’Neal to the Los Angeles Lakers. Without O’Neal, the Magic faced challenges in maintaining their competitive edge in the Eastern Conference. The team was coached by Brian Hill for the first 49 games before he was replaced by Richie Adubato following a disappointing start. The Magic ended the regular season with a 45-37 record, securing the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Key players for the Magic that season included Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway, who led the team by averaging 20.5 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game. Veteran forward Horace Grant provided leadership and solid defense, while Nick Anderson and Dennis Scott contributed with consistent scoring from the perimeter. Despite the absence of O’Neal, the Magic showed resilience and managed to remain a playoff contender.
In the postseason, the Magic faced the Miami Heat in the first round. The series was highly competitive, but the Magic were ultimately eliminated by the Heat in five games (3-2). This early exit highlighted the team’s need for a dominant presence in the paint and signaled the end of an era for the Magic as they continued to rebuild around Hardaway. The 1996-97 season was a pivotal moment, as the franchise began to search for a new identity in the wake of losing one of their most influential players.
- Regular Season Record: 45-37
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 2-3
Orlando Magic Roster and Stats for 1996-97 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Anfernee Hardaway | 59 | 20.5 | 4.5 | 5.6 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 31.8 | 5 | 31.0 | 6.0 | 3.4 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 36.7 |
| Rony Seikaly | 74 | 17.3 | 9.5 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 3 | 6.3 | 5.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Horace Grant | 67 | 12.6 | 9.0 | 2.4 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 16.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Dennis Scott | 66 | 12.5 | 3.1 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 39.4 | 5 | 3.0 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 27.3 |
| Nick Anderson | 63 | 12.0 | 4.8 | 2.9 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 35.3 | 5 | 5.6 | 5.8 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 1.8 | 26.7 |
| Donald Royal | 1 | 12.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Gerald Wilkins | 80 | 10.6 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 32.5 | 5 | 9.4 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 33.3 |
| Derek Strong | 82 | 8.5 | 6.3 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 5 | 12.2 | 10.0 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Brian Shaw | 77 | 7.2 | 2.5 | 4.1 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 32.5 | 5 | 2.0 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 33.3 |
| Darrell Armstrong | 67 | 6.1 | 1.1 | 2.6 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 30.4 | 5 | 11.4 | 4.2 | 3.4 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 33.3 |
| Felton Spencer | 1 | 4.0 | 6.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Danny Schayes | 45 | 3.0 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 5 | 4.4 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Kenny Smith | 6 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 60.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| David Vaughn | 35 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Amal McCaskill | 17 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 2 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Brian Evans | 14 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 50.0 | 2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dell Demps | 2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
Orlando Magic in the 1997 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Miami Heat
In the first round of the 1997 NBA Playoffs, the Orlando Magic faced off against the Miami Heat in a tightly contested series. The Magic, led by Penny Hardaway, showcased resilience by taking the series to a decisive Game 5, where Hardaway delivered back-to-back 40-point performances in Games 3 and 4. Despite their efforts, the Magic ultimately fell to the Heat in the deciding game, concluding their playoff run.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 24, 1997 | @ Miami Heat | L 99-64 | |
| Apr 27, 1997 | @ Miami Heat | L 104-87 | |
| Apr 29, 1997 | vs. Miami Heat | W 88-75 | |
| May 01, 1997 | vs. Miami Heat | W 99-91 | |
| May 04, 1997 | @ Miami Heat | L 91-83 |
Orlando Magic 1996-97 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1996-97 season for the Orlando Magic.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 01, 1996 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 96-92 | |
| Nov 07, 1996 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 108-95 | |
| Nov 08, 1996 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 86-82 | |
| Nov 14, 1996 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 96-89 | |
| Nov 16, 1996 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 92-87 | |
| Nov 19, 1996 | vs. New York Knicks | L 92-88 | |
| Nov 21, 1996 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 90-86 | |
| Nov 23, 1996 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 76-73 | |
| Nov 25, 1996 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 100-88 | |
| Nov 27, 1996 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 79-75 | |
| Nov 29, 1996 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 100-91 | |
| Nov 30, 1996 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 86-82 | |
| Dec 02, 1996 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 108-102 | |
| Dec 04, 1996 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 84-57 | |
| Dec 06, 1996 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 92-81 | |
| Dec 08, 1996 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 91-84 | |
| Dec 10, 1996 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 99-93 | |
| Dec 13, 1996 | @ Vancouver Grizzlies | L 95-93 | |
| Dec 14, 1996 | @ Utah Jazz | L 101-68 | |
| Dec 18, 1996 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 102-95 | |
| Dec 20, 1996 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 98-93 | |
| Dec 21, 1996 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 103-85 | |
| Dec 23, 1996 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 89-84 | |
| Dec 26, 1996 | @ Miami Heat | L 96-76 | |
| Dec 28, 1996 | @ New York Knicks | L 96-85 | |
| Dec 30, 1996 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 97-85 | |
| Jan 02, 1997 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 96-94 | |
| Jan 03, 1997 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 110-89 | |
| Jan 07, 1997 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 109-88 | |
| Jan 09, 1997 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 97-92 | |
| Jan 12, 1997 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 88-85 | |
| Jan 13, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 114-111 | |
| Jan 15, 1997 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 78-66 | |
| Jan 16, 1997 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 78-67 | |
| Jan 19, 1997 | @ Miami Heat | W 99-87 | |
| Jan 21, 1997 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 93-88 | |
| Jan 23, 1997 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 96-92 | |
| Jan 24, 1997 | @ Boston Celtics | W 121-117 | |
| Jan 28, 1997 | @ Washington Bullets | L 102-82 | |
| Jan 29, 1997 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 112-105 | |
| Jan 31, 1997 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 109-99 | |
| Feb 02, 1997 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 103-90 | |
| Feb 04, 1997 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 111-87 | |
| Feb 06, 1997 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 119-111 | |
| Feb 11, 1997 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 104-98 | |
| Feb 12, 1997 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 96-87 | |
| Feb 14, 1997 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 104-100 | |
| Feb 16, 1997 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 110-89 | |
| Feb 17, 1997 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 124-110 | |
| Feb 19, 1997 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 95-84 | |
| Feb 21, 1997 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 99-86 | |
| Feb 23, 1997 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 99-90 | |
| Feb 24, 1997 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 93-84 | |
| Feb 26, 1997 | vs. Miami Heat | W 98-86 | |
| Feb 28, 1997 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 94-73 | |
| Mar 02, 1997 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 109-101 | |
| Mar 04, 1997 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 101-89 | |
| Mar 06, 1997 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 94-93 | |
| Mar 07, 1997 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 108-101 | |
| Mar 09, 1997 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 121-85 | |
| Mar 11, 1997 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 96-91 | |
| Mar 12, 1997 | @ Houston Rockets | W 96-95 | |
| Mar 14, 1997 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 86-81 | |
| Mar 16, 1997 | vs. Vancouver Grizzlies | W 100-89 | |
| Mar 17, 1997 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 112-107 | |
| Mar 20, 1997 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 100-95 | |
| Mar 21, 1997 | @ Boston Celtics | W 104-99 | |
| Mar 23, 1997 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 110-84 | |
| Mar 25, 1997 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 114-103 | |
| Mar 27, 1997 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 97-93 | |
| Mar 30, 1997 | vs. New York Knicks | L 101-86 | |
| Apr 01, 1997 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 105-93 | |
| Apr 03, 1997 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 113-94 | |
| Apr 04, 1997 | @ New York Knicks | W 93-84 | |
| Apr 06, 1997 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 110-94 | |
| Apr 08, 1997 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 97-82 | |
| Apr 10, 1997 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 105-69 | |
| Apr 12, 1997 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 121-98 | |
| Apr 14, 1997 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 100-91 | |
| Apr 16, 1997 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 78-63 | |
| Apr 18, 1997 | @ Washington Bullets | L 104-93 | |
| Apr 19, 1997 | vs. Miami Heat | L 102-88 |
