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Orlando Magic: 25 Best Players To Play For The Magic

By Phil Watson

ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 11: A general view of Amway Center during the game between the Orlando Magic and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Amway Center on December 11, 2015 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 11: A general view of Amway Center during the game between the Orlando Magic and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Amway Center on December 11, 2015 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /
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DENVER – NOVEMBER 15: Point guard Darrell Armstrong #10 of the Orlando Magic shoots over forward Scott Williams #42 of the Denver Nuggets during the NBA game at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado on Novemeber 15, 2001. The Magic won 101-82. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
DENVER – NOVEMBER 15: Point guard Darrell Armstrong #10 of the Orlando Magic shoots over forward Scott Williams #42 of the Denver Nuggets during the NBA game at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado on Novemeber 15, 2001. The Magic won 101-82. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

<strong>How acquired:</strong> Free agent, April 8, 1995.. PG. 1995-2003. Darrell Armstrong. 8. player. 38

Undersized and undrafted out of Division II Fayetteville State in 1991, Darrell Armstrong bounced around on the periphery of pro basketball for almost five years before getting his first shot in the NBA.

He made it count.

ORL_08_ARMSTRONG
ORL_08_ARMSTRONG /

Armstrong played four summers with the Atlanta franchise in the U.S. Basketball League, spent part of a season with the Capitol Region Pontiacs in the Continental Basketball Association, a season with the South Georgia Blues of the Global Basketball Association and two years abroad in Cyprus and Spain before the

Orlando Magic

signed him to a free-agent deal in April 1995.

Armstrong seldom played during his first full season in 1995-96 and was an edge-of-the-rotation player in 1996-97 before the real minutes came during an injury-shortened 1997-98 season.

After the lockout in 1999, a star was born.

Armstrong was named both the NBA’s Most Improved Player and Sixth Man of the Year in 1998-99 and was third in the league with a .904 free-throw percentage.

In 1999-2000, Armstrong was second in the NBA with 169 steals and third with a .911 free-throw percentage and with an average of 2.1 steals per game.

He was third in free-throw shooting again in 2001-02, hitting at an .888 clip. But in July 2003, Armstrong left the only NBA team he ever knew to sign a free-agent deal with the New Orleans Hornets.

In nine seasons with Orlando, Armstrong averaged 11.7 points, 5.1 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals in 28.4 minutes per game, shooting .419/.346/.888.

He was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in December 2004 and in July 2006, he was sent to the Indiana Pacers.

Waived by the Pacers in October 2007, Armstrong signed up with the New Jersey Nets five days later and played a final season before retiring.

He has been an assistant coach with the Mavericks since 2009.

Armstrong’s career .871 free-throw shooting is 21st-best in NBA history.

Next: G-Money Still Great When He Could Play

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