Yes, Orlando was the only team among the six clubs to join the league in the late '80s and '90s to make it to the NBA Finals. They had two of the league's most dynamic personalities in Penny Hardaway and Shaquille O'Neal. And they made the postseason in five of their first 10 seasons of existence, providing some instant gratification to their fans.

However, the loss of Shaq via free agency to the Los Angeles Lakers in '96, and the dealing of Penny in a sign-and-trade arrangement with Phoenix in '99, a trade that netted Orlando next to nothing, tainted what would've been a decade of excellence.

Using two No. 1 overall draft picks the Magic secured Shaq (1992) and Penny (1993, after trading No. 1 pick Chris Webber to Golden State for the guard and draft picks) and appeared to book their ticket to deep into the NBA playoffs for years to come. But the duo played just three years together and after Shaq was gone, the Magic didn't make it past the first round of the playoffs.

Memorable moments
They call it "The Steal" in Orlando. It was Nick Anderson sneaking behind Michael Jordan and swiping the ball with Game 1 of the 1995 Eastern Conference semifinals on the line. The play set the tone for the series as the Magic defeated the Bulls, 4-2, to end MJ's return from baseball early. …

Shaquille O'Neal's dunks never lack in packing a wallop, but the one on Feb. 7, 1993 against the Phoenix Suns was extra brutal. It literally brought the backboard down, delaying the game and displaying the raw power of the 300-pounder. …

Scott Skiles set the NBA mark for assists in a game with 30 against Denver on Dec. 30, 1990. It went down to the wire as Skiles needed Jerry Reynolds to sink a deep jumper from the left wing inside the last minute of the game.

Best year: 1994-95
Highlight of the decade was the Magic's beating of MJ and the Bulls in second round. They then beat the Indiana Pacers in a tense seven-game series in which the two big guns, Shaq (27.3 ppg) and Penny (19.6 ppg), came through.

But Shaq was overmatched in the Finals by Hakeem Olajuwon, who averaged 32.8 points, as the Rockets swept the Magic, 4-0.

Worst year: 1990-91
After winning 31 games the year before, the Magic took a step back with just 21 victories. They did not have a winning month the entire season, largely due to injuries that sidelined Dennis Scott and Nick Anderson among others for significant portions.