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10 Recent NBA Dynasties That Never Were

By Jamal Williams

Basketball: Orlando Magic Shaquille O'Neal (C) happy and pointing with Anfernee Penny Hardaway (R) on bench during game vs Denver Nuggets at Orlando Arena. Orlando, FL 12/14/1994 CREDIT: Ben Van Hook (Photo by Ben Van Hook /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (Set Number: X47547 )
Basketball: Orlando Magic Shaquille O'Neal (C) happy and pointing with Anfernee Penny Hardaway (R) on bench during game vs Denver Nuggets at Orlando Arena. Orlando, FL 12/14/1994 CREDIT: Ben Van Hook (Photo by Ben Van Hook /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (Set Number: X47547 ) /
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Basketball: NBA Finals: Aerial view of Orlando Magic Shaquille O’Neal (32) in action, dunk over Houston Rockets Hakeem Olajuwon (32) at Orlando Arena. Game 2. Orlando, FL 6/9/1995 CREDIT: John W. McDonough (Photo by John W. McDonough /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (Set Number: X48485 TK4 R2 F8 )
Basketball: NBA Finals: Aerial view of Orlando Magic Shaquille O’Neal (32) in action, dunk over Houston Rockets Hakeem Olajuwon (32) at Orlando Arena. Game 2. Orlando, FL 6/9/1995 CREDIT: John W. McDonough (Photo by John W. McDonough /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (Set Number: X48485 TK4 R2 F8 ) /

1. Orlando Magic (1994-95)

It was a young team that seemed to have everything set for the future. A shooter in Dennis Scott who could rain down three pointers with the best of them; a former Bull in Horace Grant whose championship experience could help them get over the hump; a point guard in Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway, whose nickname became his moniker and a game as sweet as the Nike Foamposites we wore; and a young big man in Shaquille O’Neal who would eventually become one of the most dominant forces the game has ever seen.

It would seem for the Orlando Magic that it wasn’t a matter of if but when they would make numerous title runs in the middle to late 90s. They made their way through the 1995 NBA Playoffs, even going through the Chicago Bulls, to get to the Finals. And the stage was set. It would pit Hakeem Olajuwon’s Houston Rockets against Shaquille O’Neal’s Magic team. A clash of titans was about to ensue…or so we thought.

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It was a classic case of too young vs. too much experience. Olajuwon and the Rockets dominated the matchup and went on to sweep the Magic in four games.

Now many would believe I chose this team after watching the ESPN 30 for 30 film,”This Magic Moment.” On the contrary,  I believe the Magic were just talented in all facets of the game to not have a at least one title banner hanging in Orlando.

Even more upsetting was the fact that injuries plagued players such as Hardaway, and O’Neal leaving Orlando for the bright lights in Los Angeles would ultimately leave the franchise to have to start over again.

For many of these teams, the moment was either too much to handle. Maybe if they had been able to form at a different time or even in a different era, their fortunes would have ended on a positive note. Nonetheless, you can’t turn back time, which will in turn leave fans like myself wondering if these “never were” teams could’ve called themselves “dynasties.”

More hoops habit: NBA: 50 Greatest Players Of All Time

Hopefully the Golden State Warriors won’t be on the wrong side of that conversation at the end of this season.