Magic: 10 Greatest Players in Franchise History, Ranked

Orlando Magic fans have seen some of the best and most dominant players in NBA history. These stars have never brought a championship to the Sunshine State, but for brief moments in time, there were few better in the league. But who are the best and greatest Magic players in history? We’ll try to figure that out here with the all-time top-10 Magic player rankings.

These all-time top-10 Magic player rankings are based on what these stars did in an Orlando uniform and how they contributed to the franchise. So, while Patrick Ewing and Dominique Wilkins are top-75 players in NBA history, their short tenures with the franchise don’t put them on this list.

With apologies to some of the near-misses for this list, like Dennis Scott, Jameer Nelson, and Rashard Lewis, here are the 10 greatest Magic players in team history, ranked.

10. Hedo Turkoglu

The Magic is one of the younger franchises in the NBA. The team started in 1989 but has had quite a few impactful stars. One of those players was one of the original modern point-forwards, Hedo Turkoglu.

Now, there is no question that Turkoglu was frustrating at times as his form and effort were wildly inconsistent. But when he was good, he was really good.

The 6-foot-10 Turkish forward has two stints with the Magic, from 2004 to 2009 — when he helped the Magic reach the NBA Finals — and again from 2010 to 2013. In that last run, Turkoglu tested positive for a banned substance and was waived to end his tenure.

Ultimately, though, Turkoglu filled up the stat sheet for Orlando, and that’s what gets him on this best Magic players list. For his career with the team, he averaged 14.5 points, 3.9 assists, and 4.5 rebounds, shooting 37.9% from 3-point range. During his best season, 2007-08, his averages were 19.5 points, 5.0 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game with a 40.0% from 3-point percentage, which led to winning the NBA Most Improved Player Award.

9. Scott Skiles

The last mental image Magic fans have of Scott Skiles is him scowling on the sidelines, or maybe him quitting, during his one season as the team’s coach. However, for those who remember the diminutive guard on the court, those memories are much fonder.

Skiles was the sixth pick of the Magic’s 1989 Expansion Draft, and he spent five seasons down in Disney World. He made it through the lean early years and left after the franchise finally made its first playoff appearance in 1994.

Skiles averaged 12.9 points and 7.2 assists, and in his second season, he led the team in win shares with 7.0. He eventually had to make way when Penny Hardaway came to town, but in Shaq’s early days, he was the man running the show.