1994–95 Orlando Magic season

1994–95 Orlando Magic season
Conference Champions
Division Champions
Head coach	Brian Hill
Arena	Orlando Arena
Results
Record	57–25 (.695)
Place	Division: 1st (Atlantic) Conference: 1st (Eastern)
Playoff finish	NBA Finals (Lost to Rockets 0–4)
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	SportsChannel Florida, Sunshine Network, WKCF
Radio	WDBO

The 1994–95 season was Orlando's sixth in the NBA.^[1] After building through the draft in previous years, the Magic made themselves even stronger by signing free agents Horace Grant and Brian Shaw. Grant gave the Magic one of the most dominant starting lineups in the NBA. Shaquille O'Neal continued to dominate the NBA with 29.3 points per game. The Magic easily won the Atlantic Division with a 57–25 record.^[2] They also finished with a 39–2 home record, tied for second best in NBA history. Anfernee Hardaway was selected to play in the 1995 NBA All-Star Game along with O'Neal.

In the playoffs the Magic overwhelmed the Boston Celtics with a 124–77 victory in Game 1. The Magic would eliminate the Celtics in the Boston Garden. These matches would be the final 2 basketball games ever played at the Garden.^[2]

In the second round, the Magic were matched up against the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls were on an emotional high as Michael Jordan had just returned from baseball career to play basketball. Jordan was now wearing the number 45 for the Bulls. The Magic won the first game 94–91. Tensions rose when Nick Anderson indicated that Jordan was no longer the same player when Anderson was quoted by the media saying, "Number 23, he could just blow right by you! Number 45, he revs up, but doesn't really take off." The comment motivated Jordan to return to number 23 and the Bulls evened the series.^[2] In Game 5, the Magic won the game 103–95. The Magic would eliminate the Bulls in Game 6 as the Magic won 108–102 to advance to the Conference Finals.

In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Magic would beat the Indiana Pacers in a tough 7-game series that saw the home team win every game.^[2]

The Magic were off to their first ever NBA Finals. The Magic faced off against the defending NBA Champion Houston Rockets. Shaq would be up against Hakeem Olajuwon in a battle of All-Star Centers. Game 1 was played in Orlando and the game was lost at the free throw line. Anderson missed four consecutive free throws with the Magic up by three at waning seconds of the game and the Rockets tied the game at the buzzer. The Rockets would then win Game 1 in overtime.^[2] The Magic would not recover from their Game 1 loss as the Rockets swept the series in 4 straight.

For the season, the Magic had new blue pinstripe road uniforms, while the black pinstripe jerseys became their alternate. Both uniforms lasted until 1998.

The team's season roster is featured in the video game NBA 2K16.^[3]

NBA Draft

Main article: 1994 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	School/Club Team
1	27	Brooks Thompson	SG	United States	Oklahoma State
2	31	Rodney Dent	PF/C	United States	Kentucky

Roster

Orlando Magic roster

Players

Coaches

Pos.	No.	Name	Height	Weight	DOB (YYYY–MM–DD)
2.0 !SG	25	USA !	Anderson, Nick	7000198120000000000♠6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	Illinois
1.0 !PG	10	USA !	Armstrong, Darrell	7000182880000000000♠6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	170 lb (77 kg)	Fayetteville State
4.5 !PF	00	USA !	Avent, Anthony	7000205740000000000♠6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	235 lb (107 kg)	Seton Hall
2.0 !SG	14	USA !	Bowie, Anthony	7000198120000000000♠6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	Oklahoma
4.5 !PF	54	USA !	Grant, Horace	7000208279999999999♠6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)	215 lb (98 kg)	Clemson
6.0 !C	43	NED !	Hammink, Geert	7000213360000000000♠7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)	262 lb (119 kg)	LSU
1.0 !PG	1	USA !	Hardaway, Anfernee	7000200659999999999♠6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	195 lb (88 kg)	Memphis
6.0 !C	32	USA !	O'Neal, Shaquille	7000215899999999999♠7 ft 1 in (2.16 m)	325 lb (147 kg)	LSU
6.0 !C	30	USA !	Rollins, Tree	7000215899999999999♠7 ft 1 in (2.16 m)	235 lb (107 kg)	Clemson
3.0 !SF	5	USA !	Royal, Donald	7000203200000000000♠6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	Notre Dame
3.0 !SF	3	USA !	Scott, Dennis	7000203200000000000♠6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)	229 lb (104 kg)	Georgia Tech
1.0 !PG	20	USA !	Shaw, Brian	7000185420000000000♠6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	UC Santa Barbara
1.0 !PG	22	USA !	Thompson, Brooks	7000193040000000000♠6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	193 lb (88 kg)	Oklahoma State
4.5 !PF	31	USA !	Turner, Jeff	7000205740000000000♠6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	230 lb (104 kg)	Vanderbilt

Head coach

Brian Hill (JFK College)

Assistant coach(es)

Legend

(C) Team captain
(DP) Unsigned draft pick
(FA) Free agent
(S) Suspended
Injured

Roster

Roster Notes

Center Tree Rollins was a player/coach during the season.

Depth chart

Pos.	Starter	Bench	Reserve	Inactive
C	Shaquille O'Neal	Tree Rollins
PF	Horace Grant	Jeff Turner	Anthony Avent
SF	Donald Royal	Dennis Scott
SG	Nick Anderson	Anthony Bowie	Brooks Thompson
PG	Penny Hardaway	Brian Shaw		Darrell Armstrong

Regular season

Season standings

Atlantic Division	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Orlando Magic	57	25	.695	—	39-2	18-23	18-10
x-New York Knicks	55	27	.671	2	29-12	26-15	23-5
x-Boston Celtics	35	47	.427	22	20-21	15-26	14-14
Miami Heat	32	50	.390	25	22-19	10-31	9-19
New Jersey Nets	30	52	.366	27	20-21	10-31	13-15
Philadelphia 76ers	24	58	.293	33	14-27	10-31	12-16
Washington Bullets	21	61	.256	36	13-28	8-33	9-19

^[4]

Record vs. opponents

1994–95 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	UTA	WAS
Atlanta	—	3–1	2–2	1–4	1–4	2–0	2–0	3–2	2–0	0–2	1–4	2–0	0–2	2–2	1–3	2–0	4–0	2–2	1–3	3–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	4–0
Boston	1–3	—	1–3	0–4	2–2	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	2–2	0–2	1–1	4–1	1–3	2–0	2–3	0–5	2–3	3–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	3–1
Charlotte	2–2	3–1	—	2–2	3–2	0–2	1–1	5–0	2–0	0–2	1–4	2–0	0–2	3–1	4–1	1–1	3–1	3–1	1–3	3–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	3–1
Chicago	4–1	4–0	2–2	—	2–3	1–1	1–1	5–0	2–0	1–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	3–1	1–4	2–0	2–2	3–1	1–3	4–0	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–2
Cleveland	4–1	2–2	2–3	3–2	—	0–2	1–1	2–2	2–0	0–2	2–3	1–1	1–1	1–3	4–0	1–1	4–0	2–2	1–3	3–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	3–1
Dallas	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	—	1–4	1–1	3–1	2–3	1–1	3–1	1–3	0–2	1–1	4–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–0	0–4	3–1	2–2	2–3	0–4	2–4	1–1
Denver	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–1	—	1–1	1–3	1–4	1–1	4–0	2–2	2–0	2–0	6–0	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–3	3–1	2–2	1–4	1–3	1–4	2–0
Detroit	2–3	1–3	0–5	0–5	2–2	1–1	1–1	—	1–1	0–2	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	2–3	1–1	2–2	1–3	1–3	4–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	3–1
Golden State	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–3	3–1	1–1	—	0–4	0–2	3–2	3–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–2	1–4	0–5	1–3	1–4	2–2	2–0
Houston	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	3–2	4–1	2–0	4–0	—	1–1	3–1	0–4	2–0	1–1	3–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	2–0	3–1	1–3	3–1	1–5	0–4	2–3	2–0
Indiana	4–1	2–2	4–1	2–2	3–2	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–0	1–1	—	2–0	1–1	2–2	3–2	2–0	3–1	1–3	2–2	4–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	0–2	3–1
L.A. Clippers	0–2	2–0	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–3	0–4	1–1	2–3	1–3	0–2	—	2–3	0–2	1–1	1–3	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–4	0–5	1–4	0–4	0–5	1–3	0–2
L.A. Lakers	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–2	2–0	2–3	4–0	1–1	3–2	—	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–4	2–3	3–2	1–3	4–1	2–2	2–0
Miami	2–2	1–4	1–3	1–3	3–1	2–0	0–2	3–1	1–1	0–2	2–2	2–0	1–1	—	4–0	1–1	1–3	1–4	1–3	1–4	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	4–1
Milwaukee	3–1	3–1	1–4	4–1	0–4	1–1	0–2	3–2	2–0	1–1	2–3	1–1	1–1	0–4	—	1–1	2–2	2–2	0–4	3–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	3–1
Minnesota	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–4	0–6	1–1	3–1	2–3	0–2	3–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	—	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–4	0–4	1–3	0–5	0–4	1–4	1–1
New Jersey	0–4	3–2	1–3	2–2	0–4	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	2–0	0–2	3–1	2–2	1–1	—	1–4	2–2	2–3	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	2–3
New York	2–2	5–0	1–3	1–3	2–2	2–0	2–0	3–1	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–0	2–0	4–1	2–2	2–0	4–1	—	2–3	4–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–2	0–2	4–0
Orlando	3–1	3–2	3–1	3–1	3–1	2–0	2–0	3–1	2–0	2–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	3–1	4–0	1–1	2–2	3–2	—	4–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–2
Philadelphia	1–3	1–3	1–3	0–4	1–3	0–2	1–1	0–4	1–1	0–2	0–4	1–1	1–1	4–1	1–3	1–1	3–2	0–4	1–4	—	0–2	2–0	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	3–2
Phoenix	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	4–0	3–1	1–1	2–3	1–3	1–1	4–1	4–1	2–0	2–0	4–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	—	5–0	4–1	2–2	4–1	2–2	2–0
Portland	1–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–3	1–3	2–0	4–1	3–1	1–1	5–0	3–2	2–0	2–0	4–0	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–5	—	3–2	1–3	2–3	1–3	2–0
Sacramento	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–2	2–2	1–1	5–0	1–3	0–2	4–1	2–3	2–0	1–1	3–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–4	2–3	—	0–4	3–2	0–4	1–1
San Antonio	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	3–2	4–1	2–0	3–1	5–1	0–2	4–0	3–1	2–0	2–0	5–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	3–1	4–0	—	2–2	3–2	2–0
Seattle	2–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	4–0	3–1	2–0	4–1	4–0	1–1	5–0	1–4	2–0	2–0	4–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–4	3–2	2–3	2–2	—	1–3	2–0
Utah	2–0	2–0	0–2	2–0	1–1	4–2	4–1	2–0	2–2	3–2	2–0	3–1	2–2	2–0	2–0	4–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–2	3–1	4–0	2–3	3–1	—	2–0
Washington	0–4	1–3	1–3	2–2	1–3	1–1	0–2	1–3	0–2	0–2	1–3	2–0	0–2	1–4	1–3	1–1	3–2	0–4	2–3	2–3	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	—

Playoffs

East First Round

(1) Orlando Magic vs. (8) Boston Celtics: Magic win series 3-1

Game 1 @ Orlando Arena, Orlando (April 28): Orlando 124, Boston 77
Game 2 @ Orlando Arena, Orlando (April 30): Boston 99, Orlando 92
Game 3 @ Boston Garden, Boston (May 3): Orlando 82, Boston 77
Game 4 @ Boston Garden, Boston (May 5): Orlando 95, Boston 92

Last Playoff Meeting: Not available (first playoff series)

East Conference Semifinals

(1) Orlando Magic vs. (5) Chicago Bulls: Magic win series 4-2

Game 1 @ Orlando Arena, Orlando (May 7): Orlando 94, Chicago 91
Game 2 @ Orlando Arena, Orlando (May 10): Chicago 104, Orlando 94
Game 3 @ United Center, Chicago (May 12): Orlando 110, Chicago 101
Game 4 @ United Center, Chicago (May 14): Chicago 106, Orlando 95
Game 5 @ Orlando Arena, Orlando (May 16): Orlando 103, Chicago 95
Game 6 @ United Center, Chicago (May 18): Orlando 108, Chicago 102

Last Playoff Meeting: Not available (first playoff series)

East Conference Finals

(1) Orlando Magic vs. (2) Indiana Pacers: Magic win series 4-3

Game 1 @ Orlando Arena, Orlando (May 23): Orlando 105, Indiana 101
Game 2 @ Orlando Arena, Orlando (May 25): Orlando 119, Indiana 114
Game 3 @ Market Square Arena, Indianapolis (May 27): Indiana 105, Orlando 100
Game 4 @ Market Square Arena, Indianapolis (May 29): Indiana 94, Orlando 93
Game 5 @ Orlando Arena, Orlando (May 31): Orlando 108, Indiana 106
Game 6 @ Market Square Arena, Indianapolis (June 2): Indiana 123, Orlando 96
Game 7 @ Orlando Arena, Orlando (June 4): Orlando 105, Indiana 81

Last Playoff Meeting: 1994 Eastern Conference First Round (Indiana won 3-0)

NBA finals

Olajuwon vs. O'Neal

Although both centers played well, Olajuwon is generally considered to have outplayed O'Neal. Olajuwon outscored O'Neal in every game of the series and became one of the few players in NBA history to score at least 30 points in every game of an NBA Finals series:^[5]^[6]

1995 NBA Finals	Gm 1	Gm 2	Gm 3	Gm 4	Totals
Hakeem Olajuwon	31	34	31	35	32.8 ppg
Shaquille O'Neal	26	33	28	25	28.0 ppg

Series Summary

Game	Date	Home Team	Result	Road Team
Game 1	June 7	Orlando	118–120	Houston
Game 2	June 9	Orlando	106–117	Houston
Game 3	June 11	Houston	106–103	Orlando
Game 4	June 14	Houston	113–101	Orlando

Rockets win series 4-0

Player statistics

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

Season

Player	GP	REB	AST	STL	BLK	PTS	AVG
Nick Anderson	76	335	314	125	22	1200	15.8
Penny Hardaway	77	336	551	130	26	1613	20.9
Shaquille O'Neal	79	901	214	73	192	2315	29.3

Awards and honors

Shaquille O'Neal, NBA Scoring Champion (2315 pts)
Shaquille O'Neal, NBA Leader Points per Game (29.3)

References

↑ 1994-95 Orlando Magic
1 2 3 4 5 Orlando Magic (1989-Present)
↑ Lelinwalla, Mark (September 11, 2015). "'NBA 2K16': All The Classic Teams Announced". Tech Times. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
↑ 1994-95 NBA Season Summary - Basketball-Reference.com
↑ History of the NBA Finals: Hakeem Olajuwon: The NBA’s Best In The Mid ’90s, hollywoodsportsbook.com, accessed February 16, 2007.
↑ NBA Finals Records, Basketball.com, accessed February 16, 2007.

1994–95 NBA season by team

Eastern

Atlantic	Boston Miami New Jersey New York Orlando Philadelphia Washington

Central	Atlanta Charlotte Chicago Cleveland Detroit Indiana Milwaukee

Western

Midwest	Dallas Denver Houston Minnesota San Antonio Utah

Pacific	Golden State L.A. Clippers L.A. Lakers Phoenix Portland Sacramento Seattle

Orlando Magic

Founded in 1989 Based in Orlando, Florida

Franchise	Franchise Summer League Expansion Draft All-time roster Draft history Records Seasons Current season

Arenas	Amway Arena Amway Center

General managers	Williams Gabriel Weisbrod Smith Hennigan

D-League affiliate	Erie BayHawks

Administration	RDV Sports, Inc. (Rich DeVos, Owner & Chairman) Alex Martins (President) Rob Hennigan (General Manager) Frank Vogel (Head Coach)

Retired numbers	6

Hall of Famers	Chuck Daly Patrick Ewing Shaquille O'Neal Dominique Wilkins

Conference Championships (2)	1995 2009

Division Championships (5)	1995 1996 2008 2009 2010

Culture and lore	"Get Ready for This" (2 Unlimited song) Paul Porter Rudy D'Amico Stuff the Magic Dragon

Media	TV Fox Sports Sun Fox Sports Florida Radio WDBO Announcers David Steele Jeff Turner Dennis Neumann Richie Adubato

Orlando Magic seasons

1990s

2000s

2010s

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