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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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ORLANDO, FL – MAY 25: Orlando Magic center Shaquille O’Neal (R) blocks a shot by Chicago Bulls forward Dennis Rodman (L) who collides with center Luc Longley during the first period of game four of the Eastern Conference Finals at the Orlando Arena 25 May. (DAVID MILLS/AFP/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL – MAY 25: Orlando Magic center Shaquille O’Neal (R) blocks a shot by Chicago Bulls forward Dennis Rodman (L) who collides with center Luc Longley during the first period of game four of the Eastern Conference Finals at the Orlando Arena 25 May. (DAVID MILLS/AFP/Getty Images) /

player. 38. <strong>How acquired:</strong> 1st overall pick from LSU, 1992 NBA Draft.. C. 1992-96. Shaquille O'Neal. 2

The Orlando Magic’s road to relevance got a jump start when they selected LSU center Shaquille O’Neal with the first overall pick in the 1992 NBA Draft.

Shaq was a phenomenon, taking the NBA by storm while winning Rookie of the Year honors and being named an All-Star in 1992-93.

ORL_02_ONEAL
ORL_02_ONEAL /

O’Neal went on to be named an All-Star four times with the Magic and was a three-time All-NBA selection, finishing fourth in the MVP voting in 1993-94 and second in 1994-95, when he led Orlando to its first NBA Finals.

He led the NBA with 307 turnovers as a rookie and went on to lead the league with a .599 field-goal percentage in 1993-94 and in points and scoring with 2,315 and 29.3 points per game, respectively, in 1994-95.

O’Neal was fifth in minutes played (3,224) in 1993-94, second in rebounds three times (1992-93, 1993-94 and 1994-95) and placed third and fourth in blocks in 1992-93 and 1993-94, respectively. He was second with 2,377 points in 1993-94, finished fourth, second and third in field-goal shooting in 1992-93, 1994-95 and 1995-96, respectively; was second and third in scoring in 1993-94 and 1995-96, respectively, and was second in rebounding in both 1992-93 and 1993-94 and third in 1994-95; and placed second in blocks per game in 1992-93 (3.5).

But after just four short seasons, the Shaq era in Orlando closed, as he signed with the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent in July 1996.

In those four years, O’Neal averaged 27.2 points, 12.5 rebounds, 2.8 blocks and 2.4 assists in 37.8 minutes per game, shooting .581/1-for-11/.546.

He won three championships with the Lakers as well as his lone MVP award, but in July 2004 was traded to the Miami Heat.

After winning a fourth ring in Miami, O’Neal was on the move in February 2008, traded to the Phoenix Suns.

In June 2009, O’Neal was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

He signed with the Boston Celtics in August 2010 and retired after the 2010-11 season.

Shaq is 35th in NBA history with 1,207 games, 22nd with 41,918 minutes played, 14th with 13,099 rebounds, eighth with 2,732 blocked shots, seventh with 28,596 points, fourth with a .582 field-goal percentage, 19th with 23.7 points per game, 27th with 10.9 rebounds per game and 15th with 2.3 blocks per game.

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