Orlando Magic

The Orlando Magic are one of the youngest teams in the NBA, being founded in 1989 as part of the NBA expansion of 1988 and 1989. There was actually only going to be one expansion team in Florida, but both Miami and Orlando had legitimate pitches to the NBA, so they allowed both cities to be included in the expansion. This marked the first and only "Big 4" sports team in Orlando. The Magic have been very succesful in their young career. They haven't won an NBA Championship yet, but they have the highest winning percentage of all 1988 and 89 expansion teams. Today they have become legitimate contenders built around their cornerstone young all-star center, Dwight Howard. More on their current situation below...

Current Situation (2010-2011)
Last Updated: January 2011
The Magic are currently second in the Southeast Division at 21-12 as I write this. You can see up-to-date information on the ESPN.com widget provided on the right, however.

Though the Magic remain legitimate contenders for the NBA Championship, they recently hit a slump that prompted them to make some blockbuster deals and re-vamp their team. Their all-star center, Dwight Howard, remains the cornerstone of their franchise, with PG Jameer Nelson joining him as the co-captain of the team. But in mid-December, the Magic traded Vince Carter and a couple other players to the Phoenix Suns for Jason Richardson and former Magic player, Hedo Turkoglu, among others. They also traded Rashard Lewis to the Washington Wizards for 3-time all-star, Gilbert Arenas. This new-look team struggled through the first few games together, but are starting to play well together now. The Magic managed to defeat some very tough teams, including the San Antonio Spurs and the Boston Celtics, and are currently on a 5-game winning streak as of writing this. It looks like the Orlando Magic will be legitimate threats to anyone on the way to the NBA Championship.

Team Logo
The Magic's logo is a streaking basketball in blue and silver with black "streaks" and three stars, along with the words "Orlando Magic." The royal blue word "Magic" is the prominant part of Orlando's logo, with the basketball below it and Orlando written smaller in black above it. Ironically, one of the team names that "Magic" had beaten out by vote was the "Heat," Orlando's in-state rival.

Magic NBA Records/Orlando Magic Trivia

The following are both some well known facts about the Orlando Magic, and some little known facts about the Orlando Magic.

• The Magic are one of four NBA teams that has a nickname not ending with an "S." (Others: Heat; Jazz; Thunder)
• The Magic are the only "Big 4" sports team in Orlando, Florida.
• Former Magic guard, Scott Skiles, owns the NBA single-game assist record, with 30 against the Denver Nuggets in 1990.
• Comedian Chris Rock was the voice of "Lil Penny," former Magic Guard, Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway's Nike commercials' mini-puppet.
• Shaquille O'Neal was drafted #1 Overall Orlando in 1992.