The 1997-98 Orlando Magic season marked a transitional phase for the franchise. The team, under the guidance of head coach Chuck Daly, ended the regular season with a 41-41 record. This performance placed them 4th in the Atlantic Division and 9th in the Eastern Conference, narrowly missing the playoffs. It was a season of rebuilding and adjustment following the departure of former stars like Shaquille O’Neal in previous years.
Key players for the Magic included Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway and Nick Anderson. However, Hardaway’s season was marred by injuries, limiting his impact on the court. The team also saw contributions from Horace Grant and newly acquired players such as Derek Harper and Rony Seikaly. Despite these efforts, the Magic struggled with consistency throughout the season, particularly in defense, which contributed to their inability to secure a playoff berth.
Off the court, the Magic made moves to solidify their future. The season was notable for the draft acquisition of Johnny Taylor and the hiring of Daly, a veteran coach with a championship pedigree. While the immediate results were not as favorable as hoped, the franchise laid the groundwork for future development. The 1997-98 season was a critical juncture for the Magic, as they aimed to return to the heights of their early 1990s playoff success.
- Regular Season Record: 41-41
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
Orlando Magic Roster and Stats for 1997-98 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Anfernee Hardaway | 19 | 16.4 | 4.0 | 3.6 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 30.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Nick Anderson | 58 | 15.3 | 5.1 | 2.1 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 36.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Rony Seikaly | 47 | 15.0 | 7.6 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Derek Strong | 58 | 12.7 | 7.4 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Horace Grant | 76 | 12.1 | 8.1 | 2.3 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Bo Outlaw | 82 | 9.5 | 7.8 | 2.6 | 1.3 | 2.2 | 25.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Mark Price | 63 | 9.5 | 2.0 | 4.7 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 33.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Darrell Armstrong | 48 | 9.2 | 3.3 | 4.9 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 36.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Derek Harper | 66 | 8.6 | 1.6 | 3.5 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 36.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Vernon Maxwell | 11 | 7.4 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 23.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| David Benoit | 24 | 5.8 | 2.6 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 27.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Danny Schayes | 74 | 5.5 | 3.3 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Gerald Wilkins | 72 | 5.3 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 26.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Kevin Edwards | 12 | 4.9 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Brian Evans | 44 | 4.7 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 26.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Kevin Ollie | 19 | 4.1 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Johnny Taylor | 12 | 3.2 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Spud Webb | 4 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Donald Royal | 2 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Carl Thomas | 4 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Jason Lawson | 17 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Tim Kempton | 3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
Orlando Magic 1997-98 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1997-98 season for the Orlando Magic.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 31, 1997 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 105-99 | |
| Nov 02, 1997 | @ Boston Celtics | W 107-96 | |
| Nov 04, 1997 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 110-76 | |
| Nov 05, 1997 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 94-81 | |
| Nov 07, 1997 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 89-84 | |
| Nov 08, 1997 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 96-87 | |
| Nov 12, 1997 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 115-89 | |
| Nov 14, 1997 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 103-85 | |
| Nov 15, 1997 | @ Washington Wizards | W 102-91 | |
| Nov 18, 1997 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 112-94 | |
| Nov 19, 1997 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 96-93 | |
| Nov 22, 1997 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 108-94 | |
| Nov 24, 1997 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 95-87 | |
| Nov 26, 1997 | vs. Miami Heat | L 84-60 | |
| Nov 28, 1997 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 94-90 | |
| Nov 30, 1997 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 103-81 | |
| Dec 02, 1997 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 89-88 | |
| Dec 03, 1997 | @ Vancouver Grizzlies | W 101-97 | |
| Dec 05, 1997 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 104-89 | |
| Dec 06, 1997 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 83-79 | |
| Dec 08, 1997 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 95-86 | |
| Dec 10, 1997 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 106-98 | |
| Dec 11, 1997 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 100-90 | |
| Dec 13, 1997 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 107-78 | |
| Dec 18, 1997 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 85-73 | |
| Dec 20, 1997 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 95-92 | |
| Dec 22, 1997 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 99-88 | |
| Dec 26, 1997 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 107-81 | |
| Dec 27, 1997 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 96-87 | |
| Dec 30, 1997 | vs. New York Knicks | L 84-79 | |
| Jan 02, 1998 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 81-71 | |
| Jan 03, 1998 | @ New York Knicks | L 88-84 | |
| Jan 05, 1998 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 74-69 | |
| Jan 07, 1998 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 83-81 | |
| Jan 08, 1998 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 89-87 | |
| Jan 10, 1998 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 90-82 | |
| Jan 13, 1998 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 98-84 | |
| Jan 14, 1998 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 108-96 | |
| Jan 16, 1998 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 111-86 | |
| Jan 17, 1998 | @ Utah Jazz | L 107-93 | |
| Jan 19, 1998 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 92-89 | |
| Jan 21, 1998 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 91-84 | |
| Jan 23, 1998 | @ Miami Heat | L 102-90 | |
| Jan 28, 1998 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 91-86 | |
| Jan 29, 1998 | @ Houston Rockets | W 95-88 | |
| Jan 31, 1998 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 96-94 | |
| Feb 03, 1998 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 91-90 | |
| Feb 05, 1998 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 93-83 | |
| Feb 10, 1998 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 85-66 | |
| Feb 11, 1998 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 96-89 | |
| Feb 13, 1998 | vs. New York Knicks | L 99-83 | |
| Feb 16, 1998 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 85-81 | |
| Feb 18, 1998 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 115-102 | |
| Feb 20, 1998 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 93-91 | |
| Feb 22, 1998 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 96-94 | |
| Feb 25, 1998 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 100-79 | |
| Feb 27, 1998 | vs. Toronto Raptors | L 115-107 | |
| Feb 28, 1998 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 90-80 | |
| Mar 04, 1998 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 96-83 | |
| Mar 06, 1998 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 91-89 | |
| Mar 09, 1998 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 88-78 | |
| Mar 10, 1998 | @ New York Knicks | L 85-78 | |
| Mar 13, 1998 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | L 100-82 | |
| Mar 15, 1998 | vs. Miami Heat | L 79-76 | |
| Mar 17, 1998 | vs. Vancouver Grizzlies | W 99-92 | |
| Mar 19, 1998 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 93-87 | |
| Mar 20, 1998 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 102-87 | |
| Mar 22, 1998 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 92-83 | |
| Mar 24, 1998 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 85-73 | |
| Mar 25, 1998 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 85-70 | |
| Mar 27, 1998 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 100-75 | |
| Mar 29, 1998 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 95-68 | |
| Mar 31, 1998 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 93-86 | |
| Apr 01, 1998 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 98-87 | |
| Apr 05, 1998 | @ Washington Wizards | L 88-85 | |
| Apr 06, 1998 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 113-92 | |
| Apr 08, 1998 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 95-87 | |
| Apr 10, 1998 | @ Boston Celtics | L 82-80 | |
| Apr 11, 1998 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 87-78 | |
| Apr 15, 1998 | @ Miami Heat | W 99-87 | |
| Apr 17, 1998 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 121-109 | |
| Apr 19, 1998 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 89-76 |
