1995–96 Orlando Magic season
The 1995–96 NBA season was the Magic's seventh season in the National Basketball Association.[1] During the off-season, the Magic signed free agent Jon Koncak.[2][3] Coming off their trip to the NBA Finals, where they were swept in four games by the Houston Rockets, the Magic won their second straight Atlantic Division title with a 60–22 record, a regular season record which still stands as the best in franchise history.[4] This despite missing Shaquille O'Neal for the first 22 games of the season due to a preseason thumb injury.[5][6][7][8] Penny Hardaway stepped up in O'Neal's absence and was awarded Player of the Month for November,[9] as the Magic got off to a 13–2 start, and later held a 34–14 record at the All-Star break.[10] At midseason, the team traded Jeff Turner to the expansion Vancouver Grizzlies in exchange for Kenny Gattison, who never played for the Magic due to arm and neck injuries.[11][12][13] This season also saw three-point specialist Dennis Scott take a place in the league history books by scoring 267 three-point field goals, a single season record since broken by Stephen Curry. Scott set a then-record of 11 three-point field goals in a 119–104 home win against the Atlanta Hawks on April 18, 1996.[14][15][16]
1995–96 Orlando Magic season | |
---|---|
Division champions | |
Head coach | Brian Hill |
General manager | John Gabriel |
President | Bob Vander Weide |
Owner(s) | Richard DeVos |
Arena | Orlando Arena |
Results | |
Record | 60–22 (.732) |
Place | Division: 1st (Atlantic) Conference: 2nd (Eastern) |
Playoff finish | Eastern Conference finals (lost to Bulls 0–4) |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Local media | |
Television | WKCF Sunshine Network |
Radio | WDBO |
Hardaway averaged 21.7 points, 7.1 assists and 2.0 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA First Team, while O'Neal averaged 26.6 points, 11.0 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game in 54 games, while being named to the All-NBA Third Team, and Scott provided the team with 17.5 points per game. In addition, Horace Grant provided with 13.4 points and 9.2 rebounds per game, while Nick Anderson contributed 14.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game, and Brian Shaw contributed 6.6 points and 4.5 assists per game off the bench.[17] Both Hardaway and O'Neal were selected for the 1996 NBA All-Star Game,[18][19][20][21] while Grant made the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. Hardaway also finished in third place in Most Valuable Player voting,[22][23][24] while O'Neal finished tied in ninth place.[22][25] This was also the only season of O'Neal's NBA career, where he hit his only career three-pointer in a 121–91 home win against the Milwaukee Bucks on February 16, 1996.[26][27][28]
Despite the franchise best record, the Magic were beaten by the top seed in the East, the dominant Chicago Bulls, who finished with a then all-time best record of 72–10. In the playoffs, the Magic would sweep the Detroit Pistons in three straight games in the Eastern Conference First Round.[29][30][31][32] In the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, they defeated the 6th-seeded Hawks in five games,[33][34][35][36] despite losing Game 4 at The Omni in Atlanta, 104–99.[37][38][39]
The Eastern Conference finals matched up the Magic with the Bulls, the team they had eliminated in the previous year's playoffs. However, Grant went down with an elbow injury in Game 1, which the Magic lost on the road, 121–83, and he was out for the rest of the series.[40][41][42] The Magic suffered another painful blow when Anderson went down with a wrist injury in a 86–67 home loss in Game 3, and he was also out for the rest of the series.[43][44][45] The Bulls would be too strong as they swept the Magic in four straight games.[46][47][48][49] Thereby, the Magic became the first team to be eliminated from the playoffs in a sweep for three consecutive seasons since the 1950 Chicago Stags. The Bulls would defeat the Seattle SuperSonics in six games in the NBA Finals, winning their fourth championship in six years.[50][51][52][53][54]
Following the season, the All-Star center O'Neal left the team, signing as a free agent with the Los Angeles Lakers after four seasons in Orlando,[55][56][57][58][59] and Gattison and Anthony Bowie were both released to free agency.
Draft picks
Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 25 | David Vaughn | PF | United States | Memphis |
Roster
1995–96 Orlando Magic roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Roster |
Roster Notes
- Power forward Kenny Gattison was acquired from the expansion Vancouver Grizzlies at midseason, but did not play for the Magic due to arm and neck injuries.
Regular season
Season standings
Atlantic Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
y – Orlando Magic | 60 | 22 | .732 | 12.0 | 37–4 | 23–18 | 21–3 | 82 |
x – New York Knicks | 47 | 35 | .573 | 25.0 | 26–15 | 21–20 | 16–8 | 82 |
x – Miami Heat | 42 | 40 | .512 | 30.0 | 26–15 | 16–25 | 13–12 | 82 |
Washington Bullets | 39 | 43 | .476 | 33.0 | 25–16 | 14–27 | 10–14 | 82 |
Boston Celtics | 33 | 49 | .402 | 39.0 | 18–23 | 15–26 | 12–12 | 82 |
New Jersey Nets | 30 | 52 | .366 | 42.0 | 20–21 | 10–31 | 8–17 | 82 |
Philadelphia 76ers | 18 | 64 | .220 | 54.0 | 11–30 | 7–34 | 5–19 | 82 |
Eastern Conference | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
# | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | GP |
1 | z – Chicago Bulls | 72 | 10 | .878 | – | 82 |
2 | y – Orlando Magic | 60 | 22 | .732 | 12.0 | 82 |
3 | x – Indiana Pacers | 52 | 30 | .634 | 20.0 | 82 |
4 | x – Cleveland Cavaliers | 47 | 35 | .573 | 25.0 | 82 |
5 | x – New York Knicks | 47 | 35 | .573 | 25.0 | 82 |
6 | x – Atlanta Hawks | 46 | 36 | .561 | 26.0 | 82 |
7 | x – Detroit Pistons | 46 | 36 | .561 | 26.0 | 82 |
8 | x – Miami Heat | 42 | 40 | .512 | 30.0 | 82 |
9 | Charlotte Hornets | 41 | 41 | .500 | 31.0 | 82 |
10 | Washington Bullets | 39 | 43 | .476 | 33.0 | 82 |
11 | Boston Celtics | 33 | 49 | .402 | 39.0 | 82 |
12 | New Jersey Nets | 30 | 52 | .366 | 42.0 | 82 |
13 | Milwaukee Bucks | 25 | 57 | .305 | 47.0 | 82 |
14 | Toronto Raptors | 21 | 61 | .256 | 51.0 | 82 |
15 | Philadelphia 76ers | 18 | 64 | .220 | 54.0 | 82 |
Record vs. opponents
1995-96 NBA Records | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | ATL | BOS | CHA | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MIA | MIL | MIN | NJN | NYK | ORL | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | TOR | UTA | VAN | WAS |
Atlanta | – | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 |
Boston | 0–4 | – | 2–2 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
Charlotte | 1–3 | 2–2 | – | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 3–0 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
Chicago | 4–0 | 3–0 | 3–1 | – | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
Cleveland | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
Dallas | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | – | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 0–2 |
Denver | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | – | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
Detroit | 2–2 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–2 |
Golden State | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | – | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
Houston | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | – | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
Indiana | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–0 |
L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | – | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
L.A. Lakers | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 4–0 | – | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
Miami | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | – | 3–0 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
Milwaukee | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–3 | – | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 |
Minnesota | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | – | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 |
New Jersey | 0–4 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 0–3 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 3–1 | 1–1 | – | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 |
New York | 1–2 | 4–0 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | – | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
Orlando | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | – | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
Philadelphia | 1–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | – | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 |
Phoenix | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | – | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–0 |
Portland | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | – | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 |
Sacramento | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | – | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–2 |
San Antonio | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | – | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
Seattle | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | – | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
Toronto | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | – | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
Utah | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–0 | – | 4–0 | 1–1 |
Vancouver | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–4 | – | 0–2 |
Washington | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — |
Playoffs
The Magic opened up their playoffs campaign on April 26 against the Detroit Pistons, a game they won convincingly 112-92 at home in the Orlando Arena. The Magic would also win Game 2 at home before clinching the series, and a sweep, of the Pistons in Game 3 away from home at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
The second round put the Magic against the Atlanta Hawks. The Magic opened the series with two convincing wins at home, both with scoring margins greater than 20 points. The Magic carried this momentum into Game 3 away from home at the Omni, winning a closer fought match 102-96. The Hawks won Game 4, avoiding the sweep, but the Magic were too strong and won Game 5 at home to clinch the series 4-1.
The Eastern Conference finals saw the Magic face the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan, a team they had eliminated in the previous years playoffs. With Horace Grant out with an elbow injury from Game 1, the dominant Chicago Bulls would prove to be too strong for the Orlando this year, sweeping the series 4-0 and denying the Magic consecutive trips to the NBA finals.[46]
1996 playoff game log | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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First round: 3–0 (home: 2–0; road: 1–0)
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Conference Semi-finals: 4–1 (home: 3–0; road: 1–1)
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Conference finals: 0–4 (home: 0–2; road: 0–2)
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1996 schedule |
Player statistics
GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game |
NOTE: Please write the players statistics in alphabetical order by last name.
Season
Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Playoffs
Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Awards and honors
- Shaquille O'Neal – All-NBA 3rd team, All-Star
- Penny Hardaway – All-NBA 1st Team, Player of the Month (November), All-Star
- Horace Grant – All-Defensive 2nd Team
- Nick Anderson – Rich and Helen DeVos Community Enrichment Award
League records
During the 1995–96 season, Dennis Scott set the record for most three-point field goals scored in a regular season with 267.
Transactions
References
- 1995-96 Orlando Magic
- "Koncak Just Might Have O'Neal's Number". The Washington Post. October 7, 1995. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
- Povtak, Tim (October 3, 1995). "Magic Moves: Koncak In, - Bowie Out?". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
- "1995–96 Orlando Magic Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
- Diaz, George (October 25, 1995). "Shaq Hurts Thumb - May Miss 6 Weeks". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
- Wilbon, Michael (October 25, 1995). "O'Neal Has an Injury to Thumb". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
- "O'Neal Suffers Thumb Injury". Chicago Tribune. October 25, 1995. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
- Taylor, Phil (December 25, 1995). "He's Back, His Thumb Healed; Orlando's Shaquille O'Neal Returned to Action and Immediately Began Throwing His Weight Around". Sports Illustrated Vault. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
- "1995-96: Orlando Bullied". NBA.com. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
- "NBA Games Played on February 8, 1996". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
- Johnson, L.C. (February 23, 1996). "Magic Deal Turner to Grizzlies". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
- "Hardaway Heads for the Heat in Trade". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. February 23, 1996. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
- Romano, John (February 28, 1996). "Strategy Was Bulls' Best Tool". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
- "PRO BASKETBALL; Scott Goes On a 3-Pointer Binge as Magic Slows Hawks". The New York Times. Associated Press. April 19, 1996. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
- "Scott Is Magic from 3-Point Range". United Press International. April 19, 1996. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
- Johnson, L.C. (May 8, 1996). "Scott, O'Neal Are Big Game for Hawks". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
- "1995–96 Orlando Magic Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
- Bembry, Jerry (January 31, 1996). "NBA Coaches Recognize Howard's Star Quality; Bullets' 2nd-Year Player Named Eastern Reserve". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
- Heisler, Mark (February 11, 1996). "NBA Has All-Stars in Its Eyes". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
- "1996 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
- "1996 NBA All-Star Game: East 129, West 118". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
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- "Jordan Wins 4th MVP". Tampa Bay Times. May 21, 1996. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
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- Turner, Tim (February 17, 1996). "O'Neal Puts 3 in His Arsenal". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
- "N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Magic Gets First Sweep by Finishing Off Pistons". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 1, 1996. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
- Johnson, L.C. (May 1, 1996). "Clean Sweep". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- Atkins, Harry (May 1, 1996). "Magic 101, Pistons 98". Associated Press. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
- "1996 NBA Eastern Conference First Round: Pistons vs. Magic". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
- Brown, Clifton (May 16, 1996). "NBA PLAYOFFS; Dream Matchup Is Finally Complete". The New York Times. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
- Goodall, Fred (May 16, 1996). "Magic Ousts Hawks". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
- Povtak, Tim (May 16, 1996). "Rebounds Big Asset for Magic". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- "1996 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals: Hawks vs. Magic". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
- Johnson, L.C. (May 14, 1996). "Bricks and Stones". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
- "Hawks 104, Magic 99". United Press International. May 14, 1996. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
- "Smith Pours In 35 as Hawks Top Magic". The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. May 14, 1996. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- Brown, Clifton (May 20, 1996). "NBA PLAYOFFS; Rodman and Bulls Send Magic Up in Smoke". The New York Times. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
- Adande, J.A. (May 20, 1996). "Bulls Turn Magic's Dream Into a Nightmare, 121-83". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
- Smith, Sam (May 23, 1996). "Grant to Disappear from Series with Injury". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
- Wise, Mike (May 26, 1996). "N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Bulls Whip Magic Soundly and Close In on Sweep". The New York Times. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
- Adande, J.A. (May 26, 1996). "Bulls Go All Out in Rout". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
- Johnson, L.C. (May 26, 1996). "Chicago 86, Orlando 67". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
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