{"id":9037,"date":"2017-08-20T09:00:45","date_gmt":"2017-08-20T13:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonnba.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=9037"},"modified":"2017-08-20T14:25:08","modified_gmt":"2017-08-20T18:25:08","slug":"greatest-orlando-magic-moment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2017\/08\/20\/greatest-orlando-magic-moment\/","title":{"rendered":"Greatest Orlando Magic Moment of the 21st Century"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to the Greatest Moment series<\/a> at Last Word On Pro Basketball, where we\u2019ll present to you each NBA team\u2019s greatest moment of the 21st century. From draft lottery <\/em>luck, to a franchise-changing trade, to the sweet taste of a championship, every NBA team has had its own special moment to look back on.<\/em><\/p>\n

In this edition, we\u2019ll relive the greatest Orlando Magic moment of the 21st century: Dwight Howard<\/a><\/strong>‘s Superman dunk in the 2008 NBA Slam Dunk Contest.<\/p>\n

Greatest Orlando Magic Moment of the 21st Century:\u00a0Dwight Howard’s Superman Dunk<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The 21st century has been both kind and cruel to the Orlando Magic fan base. The almost<\/em> Tim Duncan<\/a><\/strong> signing, Grant Hill<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s lower body, Tracy McGrady<\/a><\/strong> turning into an all-time great scorer, Dwight Howard coming, Dwight Howard leaving, and the mediocrity that has followed. Considering everything that has happened since 2000, there is one moment that can be universally understood as the greatest moment for the Magic in the 21st century.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Almost Big Three<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Shaquille O\u2019Neal<\/strong><\/a> took the Orlando Magic from an expansion team known most for being near Disney World, to a team with a clear direction and future. Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway<\/a><\/strong> took that Shaq-led team and turned it into what may have been a potential dynasty. However, after it was all said and done, the Magic had zero championships and only one NBA Finals appearance to show for one of the all-time \u201cwhat could have beens.\u201d Shaq went to Los Angeles, Penny couldn\u2019t stay healthy, and the Magic were looking at what would likely be a long road back to relevance.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then, something magical<\/em> started to happen. Tracy McGrady left<\/a> Toronto<\/a> after blossoming into an elite athlete and scorer to sign with Orlando. Then,\u00a0<\/span>Grant Hill was brought in via\u00a0sign-and-trade<\/a> from Detroit<\/a>. <\/span>And for a short period of time, it appeared as though Tim Duncan would also be joining the Magic<\/a> to create, what could have been, one of the most dominant superstar trios in the league.<\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, as Magic fans know all too well, it didn\u2019t quite shake out that way. Duncan stayed with San Antonio<\/a>, Grant Hill couldn\u2019t stay healthy, and Orlando wasn’t able to surround McGrady with enough help to propel the Magic back into NBA dominance. <\/span><\/p>\n

What Happened?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Shaq and Penny were supposed to win multiple titles together in Orlando. Then, they were supposed to become a superteam with Duncan, Hill, and McGrady. At least the Magic were still supposed to be competitive with Hill and McGrady. People thought that the Magic would at least be competitive when Hill got healthy, after dealing with various injuries. <\/span><\/p>\n

In the end, that never happened. Hill’s injuries continued to plague him, and the Magic had to face another rebuilding period as McGrady made public his desire to be traded after the Magic finished the 2003-04 season with the worst record in the league.<\/span><\/p>\n

Okafor or Howard?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Magic were back on the path to rebuilding after trading McGrady. They would need to decide who they should pair next to Steve Francis<\/a><\/strong> after winning the 2004 draft lottery. Emeka Okafor<\/a><\/strong> was coming off of a dominant college career<\/a> at the University of Connecticut and was regarded as the likely first overall selection in the NBA Draft. <\/span>His only competition<\/a> was a high school senior from Atlanta named Dwight Howard.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Dwight Howard Era<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Magic decided against what many considered to be the <\/span>safer<\/span><\/i> pick in Okafor, and selected Howard with the first pick in the 2004 draft. Howard wouldn\u2019t have as immediate an impact as fellow prep-to-pro top selection\u00a0LeBron James<\/a><\/strong> did during his rookie year. However, Howard quickly cemented himself as a defensive force and an emerging offensive presence.<\/span><\/p>\n

It would take the Magic two seasons with Howard to return to the playoffs following McGrady\u2019s exit.\u00a0<\/span>Being swept in the first-round isn\u2019t what Magic fans should remember about the 2006-07 season. What should come to mind is Howard\u2019s appearance in that season\u2019s NBA Slam Dunk Contest. With a sticker of his own smiling face in his left hand, Howard touched nearly the top of the backboard while dunking the ball with his right. The judges must not have noticed what actually happened. It was an athletic achievement that cannot truly be appreciated until you stand under an NBA basket.<\/span><\/p>\n