Ranking each NBA team’s All-Decade starting 5 from the 2010s
28. Orlando Magic 2010s all-decade starting lineup
- Jameer Nelson
- Victor Oladipo
- Aaron Gordon
- Nikola Vucevic
- Dwight Howard
Given how far around the NBA landscape he’s bounced around, it’s easy to forget how dominant Dwight Howard was in the early parts of this decade. He won back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year awards this decade while averaging 20.6 points, 13.9 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game.
What made the Orlando Magic so successful in the Howard era was the bevy of snipers they stationed around the perimeter to punish defenses for sending help towards the big man.
It’s what got them to the NBA Finals in 2009, but the outside shooting is something this lineup severely lacks, and it’s why they place so low.
Jameer Nelson is a proven outside shooter alongside Howard, but the three remaining teammates could all be categorized as out of position.
Aaron Gordon is uber-athletic and would be better suited for the power forward position. Nikola Vucevic can shoot the long-ball, but his game his centered more around the low-post, creating a cluttered lane with Howard occupying the same space.
Victor Oladipo’s natural position is indeed shooting guard, but he’s proven to be at his best with the ball in his hands. That never happened in Orlando. It’s why he was traded and there’s no guarantee that role changes a second time around.
We’ve seen the recipe for success with Howard and this isn’t it. He’ll carry the Magic as far as he can on both ends, but he lacks the complementary pieces to truly put a team on his back as he has in the past.