1996–97 Orlando Magic season

1996–97 Orlando Magic season
Head coach Richie Adubato
Arena Orlando Arena
Results
Record 45–37 (.549)
Place Division: 3rd (Atlantic)
Conference: 7th (Eastern)
Playoff finish East First Round (eliminated 3-2)
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Orlando Magic seasons
< 1995–96 1997–98 >

The 1996–97 season was the 8th season of the Orlando Magic in the National Basketball Association (NBA). After losing Shaquille O'Neal via free agency to the Los Angeles Lakers in the offseason, the Magic went from 60-22 the year before to 45-37, though they still managed to make the playoffs.

Head coach Brian Hill was fired 49 games into the season, and star Penny Hardaway was generally blamed for leading a player revolt that resulted in his dismissal. Hill was replaced with Richie Adubato for the remainder of the season.

NBA Draft

Main article: 1996 NBA Draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 27 Brian Evans F  United States Indiana
2 49 Amal McCaskill C  United States Marquette
1996 NBA Draft • All-Star Game • Playoffs • Finals • Transactions
Eastern
Boston • Miami • New Jersey • New York • Orlando • Philadelphia • Washington
Atlanta • Charlotte • Chicago • Cleveland • Detroit • Indiana • Milwaukee • Toronto
Western
Dallas • Denver • Houston • Minnesota • San Antonio • Utah • Vancouver
Golden State • L.A. Clippers • L.A. Lakers • Phoenix • Portland • Sacramento • Seattle
Founded in 1989 • Based in Orlando, Florida
The Franchise
Arenas
Coaches
Guokas • Hill • Adubato • Daly • Rivers • Davis • Jent • Hill • Van Gundy
General Managers
D-League Affiliate
Administration
RDV Sports, Inc. (Rich DeVos, Owner & Chairman) • Otis Smith (General Manager) • Stan Van Gundy (Head Coach)
Retired Numbers
6 (The Sixth Man)
Conference Championships (2)
1995 • 2009
Division Championships (5)
1995 • 1996 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010
NBA Finals
1995 • 2009
Media
TV
Radio
David Steele • Matt Guokas • Dennis Neumann • Richie Adubato
1989–90 • 1990–91 • 1991–92 • 1992–93 • 1993–94 • 1994–95 • 1995–96 • 1996–97 • 1997–98 • 1998–99 • 1999–00 • 2000–01 • 2001–02 • 2002–03 • 2003–04 • 2004–05 • 2005–06 • 2006–07 • 2007–08 • 2008–09 • 2009–10 • 2010–11