1995–96 Orlando Magic season

The 1995–96 NBA season was the Magic's seventh season in the National Basketball Association.[1] During the offseason, the Magic signed unrestricted free agent Jon Koncak. Coming off their trip to the NBA Finals, where they were swept in four games by the Houston Rockets, the Magic won their second straight Atlantic Division title with a 60–22 record, a regular season record which still stands as the best in franchise history. This despite missing Shaquille O'Neal for the first 22 games of the season due to a thumb injury.[2] Anfernee Hardaway stepped up in O'Neal's absence and was awarded Player of the Month for November. The season saw Dennis Scott take a place in the league history books by scoring 267 three-point field goals, a single season record since broken by Stephen Curry, while O'Neal and Hardaway were both selected for the 1996 NBA All-Star Game.

1995–96 Orlando Magic season
Division champions
Head coachBrian Hill
General managerJohn Gabriel
PresidentBob Vander Weide
Owner(s)Richard DeVos
ArenaOrlando Arena
Results
Record60–22 (.732)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Atlantic)
Conference: 2nd (Eastern)
Playoff finishConference Finals
(Lost to Bulls 0–4)
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionSportsChannel Florida, Sunshine Network, WKCF
RadioWDBO

Despite the franchise best record, the Magic were beaten by the top seed in the East, the dominant Chicago Bulls, who finished with a then all-time best record of 72–10. In the playoffs, the Magic would sweep the Detroit Pistons in three straight games in the opening round. In the semifinals, they defeated the 6th-seeded Atlanta Hawks in five games, despite losing Game 4 at The Omni in Atlanta 104–99.

The Eastern Conference Finals matched up the Magic with the Bulls, the team they had eliminated in the previous year's playoffs. This year though, the Bulls would be too strong sweeping the Magic 4–0.[3] Thereby, the Magic became the first team to be eliminated from the playoffs in a sweep for three consecutive seasons since the 1950 Chicago Stags.

Following the season, the All-Star center O'Neal left the team, signing as a free agent for the Los Angeles Lakers,[4] Anthony Bowie was released, and Koncak was traded to the Golden State Warriors.

Draft picks
Main article: 1995 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 25 David Vaughn PF  United States Memphis

Roster
Roster listing
Orlando Magic roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY-MM-DD)From
SG 25 Anderson, Nick 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Illinois
PG 10 Armstrong, Darrell  6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Fayetteville State
PF 24 Bonner, Anthony 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Saint Louis
SG 14 Bowie, Anthony 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Oklahoma
PF 54 Grant, Horace 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Clemson
PG 1 Hardaway, Anfernee 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Memphis
C 45 Koncak, Jon 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 235 lb (107 kg) SMU
C 32 O'Neal, Shaquille 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 325 lb (147 kg) LSU
SF 5 Royal, Donald 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Notre Dame
SF 3 Scott, Dennis 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 229 lb (104 kg) Georgia Tech
PG 20 Shaw, Brian 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) UC Santa Barbara
PG 22 Thompson, Brooks 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 193 lb (88 kg) Oklahoma State
PF 42 Vaughn, David 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Memphis
C 12 Wolf, Joe 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) North Carolina
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Roster

Roster Notes

Regular season

Season standings
Atlantic Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div GP
y-Orlando Magic 60 22 .732 12.0 37–4 23–18 21–3 82
x-New York Knicks 47 35 .573 25.0 26–15 21–20 16–8 82
x-Miami Heat 42 40 .512 30.0 26–15 16–25 13–12 82
Washington Bullets 39 43 .476 33.0 25–16 14–27 10–14 82
Boston Celtics 33 49 .402 39.0 18–23 15–26 12–12 82
New Jersey Nets 30 52 .366 42.0 20–21 10–31 8–17 82
Philadelphia 76ers 18 64 .220 54.0 11–30 7–34 5–19 82
Eastern Conference
# Team W L PCT GB GP
1 z-Chicago Bulls * 72 10 .878 – 82
2 y-Orlando Magic * 60 22 .732 12.0 82
3 x-Indiana Pacers 52 30 .634 20.0 82
4 x-Cleveland Cavaliers 51 31 .622 21.0 82
5 x-New York Knicks 47 35 .573 25.0 82
6 x-Atlanta Hawks 46 36 .561 26.0 82
7 x-Detroit Pistons 46 36 .561 26.0 82
8 x-Miami Heat 42 40 .512 30.0 82
9 Charlotte Hornets 41 41 .500 31.0 82
10 Washington Bullets 39 43 .476 33.0 82
11 Boston Celtics 33 49 .402 39.0 82
12 New Jersey Nets 30 52 .366 42.0 82
13 Milwaukee Bucks 25 57 .305 47.0 82
14 Toronto Raptors 21 61 .256 51.0 82
15 Philadelphia 76ers 18 64 .220 54.0 82

Record vs. opponents
1995-96 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIA MIL MIN NJN NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA TOR UTA VAN WAS
Atlanta —4–03–10–43–11–11–12–21–11–11–32–00–22–22–21–14–02–12–22–10–22–02–00–20–24–01–12–01–3
Boston 0–4—2–20–31–30–21–12–10–21–10–42–00–23–13–12–02–20–41–34–01–10–22–00–20–23–10–21–12–2
Charlotte 1–32–2—1–33–12–02–01–30–20–21–31–12–02–23–11–10–33–00–43–12–01–11–10–20–23–11–12–03–1
Chicago 4–03–03–1—4–02–01–14–02–02–02–22–02–03–14–02–03–03–13–14–01–12–02–02–01–13–12–02–04–0
Cleveland 1–33–11–30–4—2–01–12–22–01–12–22–02–01–34–02–01–23–11–24–02–01–11–10–20–23–10–22–03–1
Dallas 1–12–00–20–20–2—2–20–22–21–30–22–20–40–21–10–41–10–21–10–21–30–42–22–22–21–11–34–00–2
Denver 1–11–10–21–11–12–2—1–12–21–30–21–32–20–21–14–00–21–11–12–03–10–40–40–41–32–03–13–11–1
Detroit 2–21–23–10–42–22–01–1—2–01–12–22–00–21–32–21–14–00–41–34–02–02–01–12–01–14–00–22–01–2
Golden State 1–12–02–00–20–22–22–20–2—2–21–13–11–31–11–13–12–00–20–22–01–31–31–31–30–41–11–34–01–1
Houston 1–11–12–00–21–13–13–11–12–2—2–04–03–10–22–02–22–00–20–22–03–12–22–21–30–42–02–24–01–1
Indiana 3–14–03–12–22–22–02–02–21–10–2—2–01–13–03–11–11–31–32–23–11–11–10–21–12–04–00–22–03–0
L.A. Clippers 0–20–21–10–20–22–23–10–21–30–40–2—0–41–11–13–11–11–10–22–03–12–22–21–30–40–21–33–11–1
L.A. Lakers 2–02–00–20–20–24–02–22–03–11–31–14–0—2–02–03–12–01–11–11–13–12–23–11–32–22–02–24–01–1
Miami 2–21–32–21–33–12–02–03–11–12–00–31–10–2—3–01–15–01–31–33–11–10–21–11–10–22–10–21–12–2
Milwaukee 2–21–31–30–40–41–11–12–21–10–21–31–10–20–3—1–11–32–21–32–10–22–00–21–10–22–20–21–11–3
Minnesota 1–10–21–10–20–24–00–41–11–32–21–11–31–31–11–1—1–10–20–21–11–30–43–11–30–41–11–32–20–2
New Jersey 0–42–23–00–32–11–12–00–40–20–23–11–10–20–53–11–1—2–20–42–20–21–11–10–20–22–20–22–02–2
New York 1–24–00–31–31–32–01–14–02–02–03–11–11–13–12–22–02–2—1–33–10–20–20–21–11–14–01–11–13–1
Orlando 2–23–14–01–32–11–11–13–12–02–02–22–01–13–13–12–04–03–1—4–02–01–11–11–11–12–11–12–04–0
Philadelphia 1–20–41–30–40–42–00–20–40–20–21–30–21–11–31–21–12–21–30–4—0–20–20–20–20–23–11–11–11–3
Phoenix 2–01–10–21–10–23–11–30–23–11–31–11–31–31–12–03–12–02–00–22–0—2–22–21–30–42–01–34–02–0
Portland 0–22–01–10–21–14–04–00–23–12–21–12–22–22–00–24–01–12–01–12–02–2—1–31–31–32–01–32–20–2
Sacramento 0–20–21–10–21–12–24–01–13–12–22–02–21–31–12–01–31–12–01–12–02–23–1—1–30–42–00–42–20–2
San Antonio 2–02–02–00–22–02–24–00–23–13–11–13–13–11–11–13–12–01–11–12–03–13–13–1—2–22–03–14–01–1
Seattle 2–02–02–01–12–02–23–11–14–04–00–24–02–22–02–04–02–01–11–12–04–03–14–02–2—1–13–13–11–1
Toronto 0–41–31–31–31–31–10–20–41–10–20–42–00–21–22–21–12–20–41–21–30–20–20–20–21–1—0–21–13–1
Utah 1–12–01–10–22–03–11–32–03–12–22–03–12–22–02–03–12–01–11–11–13–13–14–01–31–32–0—4–01–1
Vancouver 0–21–10–20–20–20–41–30–20–40–40–21–30–41–11–12–20–21–10–21–10–42–22–20–41–31–10–4—0–2
Washington 3–12–21–30–41–32–01–12–11–11–10–31–11–12–23–12–02–21–30–43–10–22–02–01–11–11–31–12–0—

Player stats

Note: GP= Games played; REB= Rebounds; AST= Assists; STL = Steals; BLK = Blocks; PTS = Points; AVG = Average

Player GP GS MP REB AST STL BLK PTS AVG
Penny Hardaway8282301535458216641178021.7
Shaquille O'Neal5452194659615534115143426.6
Dennis Scott828230413092439029143117.5
Nick Anderson7777271741527912146113414.7
Horace Grant63622286580170627484713.4
Brian Shaw751167922433658114966.6
Donald Royal6479631534229153375.3
Anthony Bowie744107812310534103084.2
Joe Wolf6381047185631352914.6
Jon Koncak673512882725127442033.0
Brooks Thompson33024624311201404.2
David Vaughn330266808615641.9
Jeff Turner13019228621473.6
Darrell Armstrong130412560423.2
Anthony Bonner404319430133.3
Geert Hammink307300041.3

Playoffs

The Magic opened up their playoffs campaign on April 26 against the Detroit Pistons, a game they won convincingly 112-92 at home in the Orlando Arena. The Magic would also win game 2 at home before clinching the series, and a sweep, of the Pistons in game 3 away from home at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

The second round put the Magic against the Atlanta Hawks. The Magic opened the series with two convincing wins at home, both with scoring margins greater than 20 points. The Magic carried this momentum into game 3 away from home at the Omni, winning a closer fought match 102-96. The Hawks won game 4, avoiding the sweep, but the Magic were too strong and won game 5 at home to clinch the series 4-1.

The Eastern Conference finals saw the Magic face the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan, a team they had eliminated in the previous years playoffs. With Horace Grant injured, the dominant Chicago Bulls would prove to be too strong for the Orlando this year, sweeping the series 4-0 and denying the Magic consecutive trips to the NBA finals.

East First Round

(2) Orlando Magic vs. (7) Detroit Pistons

Game Date Visitor Score Home Score Record

(ORL-DET)

 Venue Recap Television
1 April 26 Detroit 92 Orlando 112 1-0 Orlando Arena, Orlando, Florida 1
2 April 28 Detroit 77 Orlando 92 2-0 Orlando Arena, Orlando, Florida 2
3 April 30 Orlando 101 Detroit 98 3-0 Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan 3 TBS
Orlando wins series 3–0

East Conference Semifinals

(2) Orlando Magic vs. (6) Atlanta Hawks

Game Date Visitor Score Home Score Record

(ORL-ATL)

 Venue Recap Television
1 May 8 Atlanta 95 Orlando 117 1-0 Orlando Arena, Orlando, Florida 1 TBS
2 May 10 Atlanta 94 Orlando 120 2-0 Orlando Arena, Orlando, Florida 2
3 May 12 Orlando 102 Atlanta 96 3-0 Omni Coliseum, Atlanta 3 NBC
4 May 13 Orlando 99 Atlanta 104 3-1 Omni Coliseum, Atlanta, Georgia 4
5 May 15 Atlanta 88 Orlando 96 4-1 Orlando Arena, Orlando, Florida 5 TBS
Orlando wins series 4–1

East Conference Finals

(1) Chicago Bulls vs. (2) Orlando Magic

Game Date Visitor Score Home Score Record

(CHI-ORL)

 Venue Recap Television
1 May 19 Orlando 83 Chicago 121 1-0 United Center, Chicago 1 NBC
2 May 21 Orlando 88 Chicago 93 2-0 United Center, Chicago, Illinois 2 TNT
3 May 25 Chicago 86 Orlando 67 3-0 Orlando Arena, Orlando, Florida 3 NBC
4 May 27 Chicago 106 Orlando 101 4-0 Orlando Arena, Orlando, Florida 4 NBC
Chicago wins series 4-0

Player Stats

Note: GP= Games played; REB= Rebounds; AST= Assists; STL = Steals; BLK = Blocks; PTS = Points; AVG = Average

Player GP MP REB AST STL BLK PTS AVG
Penny Hardaway12473567220428023.3
Shaquille O'Neal124591205591531025.8
Dennis Scott1244643239113611.3
Nick Anderson11418552121515614.2
Horace Grant933494137613515
Brian Shaw10217214650474.7
Donald Royal79211101253.6
Anthony Bowie12152171432302.5
Joe Wolf11856210201.8
Jon Koncak1214023354110.9
Brooks Thompson5485701265.2
Anthony Bonner416210030.8

Awards and honors
  • Nick Anderson, Rich and Helen DeVos Community Enrichment Award
  • Horace Grant, NBA All-Defensive Second Team.
  • Penny Hardaway, Player of the Month – November.
  • Penny Hardaway, All-NBA First Team.
  • Shaquille O'Neal, All-NBA Third Team.

League records

During the 1995–96 season, Dennis Scott set the record for most three-point field goals scored in a regular season with 267.

All Stars

The following players were selected to play in the East v West All-Star game

  • Anfernee Hardaway
  • Shaquille O'Neal

References
  1. 1995-96 Orlando Magic
  2. "Shaq Hurts Thumb - May Miss 6 Weeks". Orlando Sentinel. October 25, 1995. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
  3. "N.B.A PLAYOFFS; Jordan Wields the Broom as Bulls Sweep the Magic". New York Times. May 28, 1996. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
  4. Moran, Malcolm (July 19, 1996). "Lakers Get O'Neal In 7-Year Contract". The New York Times.
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