|
The Orlando Magic is an Orlando, Florida based professional basketball team. Orlando Magic plays in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Stan Van Gundy is currently coaching the team. Orlando Magic franchise was founded in 1989 as an expansion franchise and it had such notable NBA stars such as Shaquille O'Neal, Penny Hardaway, Grant Hill, Tracy McGrady, Steve Francis, Dwight Howard, and Vince Carter throughout the teams young history. The franchise has also been in the playoffs for more than half of their existence i-e 11 playoff appearances in 20 years.
The Orlando Magic went to the NBA as an expansion franchise in the year 1989. The contest was sponsored by Orlando Magic team officials and the local Orlando Sentinel newspaper allowed the community to suggest names for their new franchise (Team). By the contest of a total of 4,296 submitted entries subsequently narrowed the names to the "Heat", the "Tropics", the "Juice" and the "Magic". On 27th July, 1986, it was announced that the committee chose the Magic to be the new name of the Orlando franchise in the National Basketball Association. The Magic were one of the four new expansion franchises awarded by the NBA along with the following three Charlotte Hornets, Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves. In the begining, the NBA was planning to expand by three teams, with a plan of one franchise going to Florida; however, when both Miami and Orlando ownership groups made successful pitches, the expansion committee decided to expand by four teams, allowing both the parties to have a franchise.
|
