These were my guys. I started watching the NBA in 1986 and my family got Magic season tickets in 1989. I can’t describe to you how exciting it was when Orlando got Shaq and Penny in back to back drafts. We went from being a fun expansion team to the team of the future in two seasons. I still firmly believe that the 1995 Magic were the best team in the NBA that season. They just got complacent and thought they already won it all after knocking out Jordan and the Bulls and then securing the East crown against Indiana. Like Rudy T said though, “you never underestimate the heart of a champion” and that’s exactly what the Magic did, although with the Drexler trade the Rockets were not a #6 seed (#5?). They were more like a top three seed and Olajuwon was playing out of his mind after losing the MVP to Robinson. Orlando’s run from 1994-1996 was my favorite period in Magic history, even though they had even more success from 2007-2012. That squad will and should be remembered as the only team to defeat the Bulls with Jordan in the lineup in a playoff series from 1991-1998, and they won three of the last four games in that series, including game six on the road. They were also one of the first teams, if not the first team, to regularly take three point shots in transition. I was so happy to see the Diesel finally get his jersey retired here in the City Beautiful. Long overdue. Thank you to those who read my book. Lol. Edit: Hogan was there because he was with WCW at the time and they did a lot of work out of Central Florida, where the WCW Power Plant training center was located, if I remember correctly.
I firmly believe if Orlando didn't choke game 1, that series would easily went at least 6 games if not all the way. U can watch a documentary or something about it how they lost their confidence after that Loss
As a Lakers fan, I think the Magic's front office were genius lowballing Shaq and getting him to test free agency. I think it was the best decision they've ever made.
Yes you guys finally did it! Man this team was so special and so deep! Besides Shaq and Penny, they had great shooters in Dennis Scott, Nick Anderson, and Brian Shaw. A solid stretch big in Horace Grant. Veteran big men in Jeff Turner and Tree Rollins! Oof, luckily for me, as a Rockets fan, we managed to beat them. But that ‘95 series was closer than most people remember.
Yes,the series was close,but,getting-SWEPT-in the nba finals is almost un-heard of,shows you how GOOD the Rockets were. And after Orlando polverized the Bulls,I was rooting for Houston to win that year's finals.
Penny Hardaway another case of why injuries suck. Made 1st team all nba 2 out of his first 3 seasons. Nba finals second season. Best shoe line after MJ. Lil penny commercials. Was so popular, it played a role in Shaq going to LA market.
Also, In 1996 The Colorado Avalanche played the Florida Panthers in the nhl finals. Florida had only existed as a franchise for three years at that point and Colorado were only playing there first year in colorado (they moved from quebec city at the beggining of the year). Also the Milwaukee bucks won a championship in 1971 only three years after they were created. Love these guys, but they gotta do their research lmao.
Honestly, this can also show the danger of young teams. Some of the dudes haven’t matured that enough to see that the highest contract isn’t everything
The contract situations were overblown outside of Orlando making O’Neal feel unwanted but you’re right on the immaturity front. That was a big factor in the Magic crumbling against the Rockets.
Also how easily they can get thrown off track mentally if they haven’t been through it before. This was the first year the Magic had won even a single playoff game and they were all the way in the NBA Finals. They never recovered from the Nick Anderson free throws.
I remember being devastated when the Bulls lost this series. I was so excited that MJ came back that I thought it was a guarantee that the Bulls would win the championship. Seeing Shaw snd Penny celebrating made me so pissed. Getting revenge on them the next year was sweet though.
People don't know what us Warriors fans had to go through, and how much the last 12 seasons mean to us TRUE fans old enough to remember this fleece, Joe Smith #1 pick instead of Garnett, losing Tim Hardaway to the Heat, Sprewell choking our idot coach... we went through alot and these 4 champions, attracting a Caliber or player like KD, Igudala etc etc, that all makes up for it 🙏🥲
In terms of the fastest to win a title in the NBA, I believe the 1971 Milwaukee Bucks were the fastest as of now? They were founded in 1968, and won the title in 1971. Similar to the Magic getting Grant, Milwaukee did acquire the Big O. That is my Bias as a Bucks fan showing, but just a little nugget of wisdom in terms of NBA history ^_^. Loved the video my dudes!
I was looking for this comment. Theres actually been a fuck ton of expansion teams in pretty much every major sport that have won their first cup or made a finals appearence within less than 5 years. One google search will tell you that lmao.
@@barrett7169 It hasnt been common until recently. For the longest time, expansion teams would be horrible and in the desert for a long time. There isnt a fuck ton. Vegas Knights. 1971 Bucks. 2001 D'Backs. 1997 Marlins. Thats about it.
The Vegas Knights making the Stanley Cup finals in their first season doesn’t get brought up a lot because it was insanely controversial. A lot of fans considered it BS because the NHL basically forced teams to give up talented players from around the league to kickstart their expansion team by making it “playoff ready”.
One of the first sad endings I witnessed growing up. This and the 2012 Thunder will always be those what if teams. Rich DeVos didn’t deserve a championship tho he showed that throughout his ownership period.
Would be awesome if you guys had a podcast on weekly NBA recaps. I absolutely love the banter and style you guys have and it would work great in that format
They were just babies and won 60 games. Unbeatable at home. They were only missing a bench and experience. They got the bench in 96. Bulls were just better. Best team orlando ever had was 96
Just goes to show how good Hakeem and those Rockets were. Winning every series even though they started on the road every single time the year before, and then this the next year. Bulls vs. Rockets would've been supremely fun to watch if Jordan hadn't gotten (rightfully) burnt out from basketball.
"Yeah they would've lost 4-1" I will say thank you for that. People act like the Magic were guaranteed a title if Anderson didn't shit himself on the line. The Rockets dominated a majority of the series so even if the Magic win there I don't see them winning.
Are you crazy? The Kings losing to Kobe Shaq Lakers is the best team to be cheated out of a title. And that’s not my opinion, that’s the Federal Court trial that occurred after the season for Game Fixing.
The Orlando Magic were one of the luckiest expansion franchises ever. Consecutive lottery wins handed them Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway, which allowed them to go from nothing to the NBA Finals in just 6 years. They followed their 1995NBA Finals loss to the Houston Rockets with a 60-win 1995-96 season, second-best in the East behind the 72-10 Chicago Bulls. The Magic looked like the team of the future .... but they weren't.
I believe this new Magic team is good enough to make it to the finals after they develop a bit more. I also believe Banchero can get them to the finals a few times within a decade, but he's going to lose to Wembanyama in the finals.
Also, even though they werent technically an expansion team, the colorado avalanche (nhl) won a cup in their first year in colorado (1996). Even crazier is that the team they played in the finals (Florida panthers) had only existed for 3 seasons.
Question: I don't really know much about Dwight Howard's Finals run, and cause y'all make videos of just about every team and era, was just wondering if a video about that team would ever be made. Thanks, love y'all's video.
Just found these guys and really enjoying their content so far and even subbed. However, is it weird to anyone else how much they call Michael Jordan Mike? Is that just me?
I think OKC should be #1 on this list , simply because they had a much longer window and lots more opportunity, the Magic had basically a 2 year run while OKC from 2010-2016 had a 7 season window , They won 50+ games 6/7 times and made the playoffs 6/7 times, 2015 KD and Russ missed most of the year that's why they missed the playoffs , they made the WCF 4 times , and the fact in 3 straight drafts they picked a future league MVP and have 0 rings to show for it
2010 Celts who were up 15 game 7 4th qtr on road against the 2010 Lakers who r easily top 10 team ever, 2012 Thunder(3 Mvps on 1 team), 2012 Spurs who looked like 1 of the best teams ever b4 losin 2 2012 OKC, 2017 Cavs, 2016 Warriors and 1989 Lakers who were 11-0 in the playoffs on road to 3 peat b4 byron scott and magic tore their hamstrings b4 and early in the finals against the pistons...those r the top teams 2 not win a chip just off the top of my Brilliant head lol but but 02 Kings def in discussion
Would you guys ever do the 2012-2013 Lakers I know it's the best teams to never win but all the drama from that team would be great to here you guys comment about it
2010 Celts who were up 15 game 7 4th qtr on the road against the 2010 Lakers who r easily top 10 team ever, 2012 Thunder(3 Mvps on 1 team), 2012 Spurs who looked like 1 of the best teams ever b4 losin 2 2012 OKC, 2017 Cavs, 2016 Warriors and 1989 Lakers who were 11-0 in the playoffs on road to 3 peat b4 byron scott and magic tore their hamstrings b4 and early in the finals against the pistons..those r the best teams 2 not win a chip just off the top of my Brilliant head lol
![1994-1995 Orlando Magic: Believe In Magic [#8]: Shaquille O'Neal | Penny Hardaway](/img/n.gif)
BABE Synthetic Sports posted 🚨🚨
Fr bro every 3 days I be ready for them to upload
Played out joke.
This unironcally lol
We all know you’re alone don’t lie like that😂
Rosey palm & her 5 sisters~
StaaaaWP
These were my guys. I started watching the NBA in 1986 and my family got Magic season tickets in 1989. I can’t describe to you how exciting it was when Orlando got Shaq and Penny in back to back drafts. We went from being a fun expansion team to the team of the future in two seasons.
I still firmly believe that the 1995 Magic were the best team in the NBA that season. They just got complacent and thought they already won it all after knocking out Jordan and the Bulls and then securing the East crown against Indiana. Like Rudy T said though, “you never underestimate the heart of a champion” and that’s exactly what the Magic did, although with the Drexler trade the Rockets were not a #6 seed (#5?). They were more like a top three seed and Olajuwon was playing out of his mind after losing the MVP to Robinson.
Orlando’s run from 1994-1996 was my favorite period in Magic history, even though they had even more success from 2007-2012. That squad will and should be remembered as the only team to defeat the Bulls with Jordan in the lineup in a playoff series from 1991-1998, and they won three of the last four games in that series, including game six on the road. They were also one of the first teams, if not the first team, to regularly take three point shots in transition. I was so happy to see the Diesel finally get his jersey retired here in the City Beautiful. Long overdue. Thank you to those who read my book. Lol.
Edit: Hogan was there because he was with WCW at the time and they did a lot of work out of Central Florida, where the WCW Power Plant training center was located, if I remember correctly.
Awesome
so true man , as a magic fan then it was boring to watch the bulls play back then for me lol
I firmly believe if Orlando didn't choke game 1, that series would easily went at least 6 games if not all the way. U can watch a documentary or something about it how they lost their confidence after that Loss
This is awesome. The whole comment lol
Thanks guys.
As a Lakers fan, I think the Magic's front office were genius lowballing Shaq and getting him to test free agency. I think it was the best decision they've ever made.
2nd best decision in nba history only behind your lakers signing Russ to a team of non shooters and expecting it to work
@@j_prince_67Exactly.. And pair him with another ball dominant point guard that plays Forward..
@@j_prince_67 3rd best will be trading Banchero 😜
@@eltrollo7293 won’t happen
Crazy how Shaq and Dwight both ended up winning a title with the Lakers after leaving Orlando
I don’t understand how you guys can make banger after banger. You guys will reach million subscribers in no time. Absolute talent
Facts
Penny's All-NBA 1st team in his 2nd season is still insane. MJ, Kobe & LeBron didn't pull that off.
F***in' injuries, man.
One of my favorite 30 for 30’s was this magic moment which talked about the Shaq era Magic
That Pacers vs Magic g4 is probably the most underrated playoff game in nba history
It really is
Magic Shaq is and always will be my favorite player ever. Unmatched power already huge still insanely athletic. Unstoppable
Baby Shaq was insane
Yes you guys finally did it! Man this team was so special and so deep! Besides Shaq and Penny, they had great shooters in Dennis Scott, Nick Anderson, and Brian Shaw. A solid stretch big in Horace Grant. Veteran big men in Jeff Turner and Tree Rollins!
Oof, luckily for me, as a Rockets fan, we managed to beat them. But that ‘95 series was closer than most people remember.
Yes,the series was close,but,getting-SWEPT-in the nba finals is almost un-heard of,shows you how GOOD the Rockets were. And after Orlando polverized the Bulls,I was rooting for Houston to win that year's finals.
Penny Hardaway another case of why injuries suck. Made 1st team all nba 2 out of his first 3 seasons. Nba finals second season. Best shoe line after MJ. Lil penny commercials. Was so popular, it played a role in Shaq going to LA market.
Facts which to me why it's hard to judge a player after a year or few because that Orlando team looked like the new team to beat after Bulls
19:09 The Arizona Diamondbacks won their first World Series in just their 4th season of existence lol
19:13 Houston Dynamo won back to back MLS Cups in their first two years of existence. Atlanta United won the MLS cup in their second year.
Also, In 1996 The Colorado Avalanche played the Florida Panthers in the nhl finals. Florida had only existed as a franchise for three years at that point and Colorado were only playing there first year in colorado (they moved from quebec city at the beggining of the year). Also the Milwaukee bucks won a championship in 1971 only three years after they were created. Love these guys, but they gotta do their research lmao.
I mean they seem to be a mostly basketball page
@@Bigedub101 well the milwaukee bucks won a championship in year 3 (thats the nba) and they totally missed that...
@@barrett7169U right and surprised they missed that too cause that's pretty well known too
Honestly, this can also show the danger of young teams. Some of the dudes haven’t matured that enough to see that the highest contract isn’t everything
The contract situations were overblown outside of Orlando making O’Neal feel unwanted but you’re right on the immaturity front. That was a big factor in the Magic crumbling against the Rockets.
Also how easily they can get thrown off track mentally if they haven’t been through it before. This was the first year the Magic had won even a single playoff game and they were all the way in the NBA Finals. They never recovered from the Nick Anderson free throws.
Loving these longer videos, guys. Keep it up!
im so happy i found this channel i watched all the retrospectives already lmao
Synthetic Sports uploaded and it's about the 1995 Magic Let's go
oRlandooo MAGICCC 🔥
I remember being devastated when the Bulls lost this series. I was so excited that MJ came back that I thought it was a guarantee that the Bulls would win the championship. Seeing Shaw snd Penny celebrating made me so pissed. Getting revenge on them the next year was sweet though.
Literally most people thought Bulls was winning it all or at least get to the finals. Yea kinda choked
These videos are proof the 90s were great.
Been killing it with the videos lately, keep up the good work!!
People don't know what us Warriors fans had to go through, and how much the last 12 seasons mean to us TRUE fans old enough to remember this fleece, Joe Smith #1 pick instead of Garnett, losing Tim Hardaway to the Heat, Sprewell choking our idot coach... we went through alot and these 4 champions, attracting a Caliber or player like KD, Igudala etc etc, that all makes up for it 🙏🥲
In terms of the fastest to win a title in the NBA, I believe the 1971 Milwaukee Bucks were the fastest as of now? They were founded in 1968, and won the title in 1971. Similar to the Magic getting Grant, Milwaukee did acquire the Big O.
That is my Bias as a Bucks fan showing, but just a little nugget of wisdom in terms of NBA history ^_^. Loved the video my dudes!
I was looking for this comment. Theres actually been a fuck ton of expansion teams in pretty much every major sport that have won their first cup or made a finals appearence within less than 5 years. One google search will tell you that lmao.
@@barrett7169 It hasnt been common until recently. For the longest time, expansion teams would be horrible and in the desert for a long time.
There isnt a fuck ton. Vegas Knights. 1971 Bucks. 2001 D'Backs. 1997 Marlins. Thats about it.
The Vegas Knights making the Stanley Cup finals in their first season doesn’t get brought up a lot because it was insanely controversial. A lot of fans considered it BS because the NHL basically forced teams to give up talented players from around the league to kickstart their expansion team by making it “playoff ready”.
It’s my bday synthetic! I appreciate the gift
Love these longer videos boys!
Y’all putting out straight bangers😭😩
The perfect thing to listen to while at work. Thanks Guys!!!
Videos getting longer hope that’s a good sign good work boys
Man do I miss 90s nba
One of the first sad endings I witnessed growing up. This and the 2012 Thunder will always be those what if teams. Rich DeVos didn’t deserve a championship tho he showed that throughout his ownership period.
Would be awesome if you guys had a podcast on weekly NBA recaps. I absolutely love the banter and style you guys have and it would work great in that format
Back 2 Back long videos? Y’all blessed us
“Idgaf I’m Mike. I do what I wanna do”😂😂😂
I will never not watch a vid from you guys. Keep up the good work Favorite channel by far🔥
babe, wake up. the glorious Synthetic Sports posted. I’m extremely BAKED and am ready to trippppp. love yall at synthetic sports ❤️
"I'm Anfernee I do things the Hardaway"
W
God what I would give to see this creativity again. "Me and my neggas be shooting like steph" ain't it no more
They were just babies and won 60 games. Unbeatable at home. They were only missing a bench and experience. They got the bench in 96. Bulls were just better. Best team orlando ever had was 96
*ORLANDO MAGIC* 🔮🧙♂️⭐ WOAAHH WOOOAAHHH OHHH OHHHH 🗣🗣🔥🔥🔥
Was about to comment this exact thing lmao
Just goes to show how good Hakeem and those Rockets were. Winning every series even though they started on the road every single time the year before, and then this the next year. Bulls vs. Rockets would've been supremely fun to watch if Jordan hadn't gotten (rightfully) burnt out from basketball.
10:44 and a time traveling Jaylen Brown
Love u for making longer vids
Shaq only 3 pointer was with the magic
Legendary
Y’all are the best for real
"Yeah they would've lost 4-1"
I will say thank you for that. People act like the Magic were guaranteed a title if Anderson didn't shit himself on the line. The Rockets dominated a majority of the series so even if the Magic win there I don't see them winning.
I would say winning game 1 would have boosted their confidence a bit but yeah they probably would’ve still lost in 6 lol
Great video, I do not know if has been suggested the 1990s Blazers and Knicks would good videos.
Are you crazy? The Kings losing to Kobe Shaq Lakers is the best team to be cheated out of a title. And that’s not my opinion, that’s the Federal Court trial that occurred after the season for Game Fixing.
new to reading comp?
this video was so good i had to watch it again man lmao
The Orlando Magic were one of the luckiest expansion franchises ever.
Consecutive lottery wins handed them Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway, which allowed them to go from nothing to the NBA Finals in just 6 years.
They followed their 1995NBA Finals loss to the Houston Rockets with a 60-win 1995-96 season, second-best in the East behind the 72-10 Chicago Bulls.
The Magic looked like the team of the future .... but they weren't.
I love this channel man
Orlando Shaq was one of the best players ever. He was like Lakers Shaq but with insane Athletism.
It kinda sounds weird to say Reggie Miller vs Shaq duel, since a lot of shaq’s fame comes after Reggie wasn’t all that good anymore
They played in the 2000 Finals as well.
yall gotta play the song at least once in these magic videos 😂😂lets go magic we not winning this year but the squad feels good
You really said guys couldn't shoot back then???🤔
Orlando Shaq would dominate today’s NBA easily. Not even Wemby could stop him
Long vids hit diff
I believe this new Magic team is good enough to make it to the finals after they develop a bit more. I also believe Banchero can get them to the finals a few times within a decade, but he's going to lose to Wembanyama in the finals.
90’s Knicks
00’s Suns
80’s Cavs
trying to help think of others for this series
19:05 Blazers won the championship in their 7th year of existence.
And expanding out to MLB, the Arizona D-backs won the World Series in their 4th season
Also, even though they werent technically an expansion team, the colorado avalanche (nhl) won a cup in their first year in colorado (1996). Even crazier is that the team they played in the finals (Florida panthers) had only existed for 3 seasons.
Prob the best 2k team ever to me. I never lost when I played as them. The bench is garbage but it doesn’t matter. So complete.
Question: I don't really know much about Dwight Howard's Finals run, and cause y'all make videos of just about every team and era, was just wondering if a video about that team would ever be made. Thanks, love y'all's video.
And GO SPURS GO!
The Hakeem 3 is underrated imo as the most disrespectful play in NBA history, it’s so funny
Every 1# pick in the magic's history always made it to the finals at some point praying for paolo
Granted you wouldn't count chris webber maybe?
The Magics start is the same thing as me rebuilding the super sonics in 2k
1995 ECSF most buried series of all time fr
'95 magic was the best shot for shaq to win a ring for the magic
But those Shaq and Penny teams were well balanced
Please do a video on my beloved 2000 Portland Trail Blazers
Luc Longley YOU'RE 7'2!!!! DUNK THAT S!!!
ROAD TO 100K GOING STRONG
Diamond backs won the WS in their 3rd year of existence
Could you also do a video on the 2009 Magic?
Big time Rockets fan, wouldn’t have been that mad to lose to Shaq man
People forget how awesome Shaq was. College Shaq was better than most NBA players
can you do more video like you do with the grit and grind era
Everytime yall post a video i instantly click
The Jack jumpers have made two finals and won one in their third nbl season. It’s happened before.
The 95 Bulls were not good without Mike and they just didn't have anybody do deal with Horace and Shaq. That Longley wiff is so bad
I genuinely would love to know what was going on in the Magic Front Office that led them to believe that lowballing Shaq was a good idea.
Just found these guys and really enjoying their content so far and even subbed. However, is it weird to anyone else how much they call Michael Jordan Mike? Is that just me?
Milwaukee Bucks won their first championship in their 3rd year of existence
no one ever talks about my milwaukee bucks man
3D!!!! HE'S CALLED 3D!!!!!!!!!
You guys should make a Shaq and Kobe lakers video
I think OKC should be #1 on this list , simply because they had a much longer window and lots more opportunity, the Magic had basically a 2 year run while OKC from 2010-2016 had a 7 season window , They won 50+ games 6/7 times and made the playoffs 6/7 times, 2015 KD and Russ missed most of the year that's why they missed the playoffs , they made the WCF 4 times , and the fact in 3 straight drafts they picked a future league MVP and have 0 rings to show for it
Do the Warriors and Cavs rivalry please!
The best team to never win championship was the 2002 Kings team.
2010 Celts who were up 15 game 7 4th qtr on road against the 2010 Lakers who r easily top 10 team ever, 2012 Thunder(3 Mvps on 1 team), 2012 Spurs who looked like 1 of the best teams ever b4 losin 2 2012 OKC, 2017 Cavs, 2016 Warriors and 1989 Lakers who were 11-0 in the playoffs on road to 3 peat b4 byron scott and magic tore their hamstrings b4 and early in the finals against the pistons...those r the top teams 2 not win a chip just off the top of my Brilliant head lol but but 02 Kings def in discussion
Need a video on Ewing Knicks now
Marlins won the World Series in their 4 year but besides can't recall any expansion teams make a championship let alone win
Make a video on the 90s Knicks
The draft had to be changed because of 93. The magic legit won the lottery where they were supposed to have a 1.6% chance to win it.
You guys really jinxed the rockets tho😂
Marlins won their first World Series in their fifth year as a franchise
Would you guys ever do the 2012-2013 Lakers I know it's the best teams to never win but all the drama from that team would be great to here you guys comment about it
They should do a failed superteam series starting with the 2013 Lakers and also include the 2014 Nets, 2018 Thunder, 2022 Nets, 2022 Lakers, etc
@@the_o_man that be dope as fuck
Scott Skiles wasn't afraid of Shaq. Probably should have been. But he sure wasn't.
do the early 90s cavs
2010 Celts who were up 15 game 7 4th qtr on the road against the 2010 Lakers who r easily top 10 team ever, 2012 Thunder(3 Mvps on 1 team), 2012 Spurs who looked like 1 of the best teams ever b4 losin 2 2012 OKC, 2017 Cavs, 2016 Warriors and 1989 Lakers who were 11-0 in the playoffs on road to 3 peat b4 byron scott and magic tore their hamstrings b4 and early in the finals against the pistons..those r the best teams 2 not win a chip just off the top of my Brilliant head lol
🐐
If the NBA said he couldn’t wear the 23 jersey he had one at home and threw it on lol
Dennis Scott’s nickname is 3-D, not d3 lol
You guys should do Lebron Cavs in the finals it’s a miracle he could drag them there
Hardaway was good shooter