1989–90 Orlando Magic season

1989–90   Orlando Magic season
Head coach	Matt Guokas
General manager	Pat Williams
Owners	William du Pont III James Hewitt Robert Hewitt
Arena	Orlando Arena
Results
Record	18–64 (.220)
Place	Division: 7th (Central) Conference: 12th (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television	WKCF Sunshine Network (Chip Caray, Jack Givens, Paul Kennedy)
Radio	WWZN (David Steele)
1990–91 >

The 1989–90 Orlando Magic season was the first season for the Orlando Magic in the National Basketball Association. ^[1] Several years after local developer and banker Jim Hewitt began promoting the idea of an NBA franchise in Florida, he was awarded the "Orlando Magic". The Magic, along with the Minnesota Timberwolves, joined the NBA as expansion teams in 1989. ^{[2] [3] [4]} Hewitt's first move was to hire Philadelphia 76ers General Manager Pat Williams; together, the two convinced the NBA to give Orlando, Florida a franchise after local fans made $100 deposits on season-ticket reservations. ^{[5] [6] [7]}

The Magic revealed a new primary logo, which showed a silver star as the letter "A" in the team name "Magic", along with a blue basketball with silver shooting stars. ^[8] The team also added new pinstripe uniforms, adding blue, black and silver to their color scheme. ^{[9] [10]} The team played their home games at the Orlando Arena.

In the 1989 NBA expansion draft, the Magic selected veteran players like Reggie Theus, Terry Catledge, Otis Smith, Jerry Reynolds, Sam Vincent, Sidney Green, Scott Skiles and Mark Acres. ^{[11] [12] [13]} The Magic received the eleventh overall pick in the 1989 NBA draft, and selected shooting guard Nick Anderson from the University of Illinois, ^{[14] [15] [16]} and also hired Matt Guokas as their first ever head coach. ^{[17] [18]}

On November 4, 1989, a sold-out crowd watched the Magic lose, 111–106 to the New Jersey Nets in the first ever NBA game played at the Orlando Arena. ^{[19] [20] [21]} On November 6, the franchise experienced its first victory as the Magic stunned the New York Knicks, 118–110. ^{[22] [23] [24]} The Magic got off to a surprising start to the regular season, posting a 7–7 record in November. However, the team struggled through long losing streaks throughout their inaugural season, including a 15-game losing streak near the end of the season. The Magic finished in last place in the Central Division with a record of 18 wins and 64 losses. ^{[25] [26]}

Catledge led the Magic in scoring, averaging 19.4 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, while Theus averaged 18.9 points and 5.4 assists per game, and Smith provided the team with 13.5 points per game. In addition, Reynolds contributed 12.8 points per game, while Anderson contributed 11.5 points per game off the bench, Vincent provided with 11.2 points and 5.6 assists per game, and Green averaged 10.4 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, second-round draft pick Michael Ansley averaged 8.7 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, while Skiles contributed 7.7 points and 4.8 assists per game, and Acres averaged 4.5 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. ^[27] Following the season, Theus was traded to the New Jersey Nets after only one season with the Magic. ^{[28] [29] [30]}

On February 14, 1990, before a game against the Chicago Bulls, Michael Jordan's number 23 jersey was stolen from the Bulls' locker room at the Orlando Arena; Jordan had to wear a number 12 jersey, and scored 49 points as the Magic won in overtime, 135–129. ^{[31] [32] [33]}

The team's primary logo would remain in use until 2000, while the uniforms would last until 1998; the black pinstripe road jerseys would be used as the team's primary road uniforms until 1994, where they added blue pinstripe uniforms, and the black pinstripe jerseys became their alternate.

Draft picks

Main article: 1989 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	School/Club team
1	11	Nick Anderson	SG/SF	United States	Illinois
2	37	Michael Ansley	SF	United States	Alabama

Roster

1989–90 Orlando Magic roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From C 42 Mark Acres 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1962–11–15 Oral Roberts G 25 Nick Anderson 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1968–01–20 Illinois F 45 Michael Ansley 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1967–02–08 Alabama F 33 Terry Catledge 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1963–08–22 South Alabama C 40 Dave Corzine 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1956–04–25 DePaul F/C 21 Sidney Green 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1961–01–04 UNLV G/F 35 Jerry Reynolds 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1962–12–23 LSU G 4 Scott Skiles 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1964–03–05 Michigan State G/F 32 Otis Smith 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1964–01–30 Jacksonville G 24 Reggie Theus 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1957–10–13 UNLV F 31 Jeff Turner 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1962–04–09 Vanderbilt G 11 Sam Vincent 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1963–05–18 Michigan State G 20 Morlon Wiley 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1966–09–24 Long Beach State

Head coach Matt Guokas Assistant(s) John Gabriel Bob Weiss Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster Updated: February 23, 1990

NBA expansion draft

Main article: 1989 NBA expansion draft

Prior to the 1989 NBA draft, the NBA held a coin toss between the Magic and the other new expansion team, the Minnesota Timberwolves, to determine their order for the NBA draft and the expansion draft. The Magic won the coin toss and chose to have the first pick in the expansion draft and pick 11th in the NBA draft, while the Timberwolves picked second in the expansion draft and 10th in the NBA draft.

The previous season's expansion teams, the Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat, were not involved in this year's expansion draft and did not lose any player.

Regular season

Season standings

Central Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Detroit Pistons	59	23	.720	–	35–6	24–17	22–8
x-Chicago Bulls	55	27	.671	4	36–5	19–22	20–10
x-Milwaukee Bucks	44	38	.537	15	27–14	17–24	14–16
x-Cleveland Cavaliers	42	40	.512	17	27–14	15–26	14–16
x-Indiana Pacers	42	40	.512	17	28–13	14–27	16–14
Atlanta Hawks	41	41	.500	18	25–16	16–25	15–15
Orlando Magic	18	64	.220	41	12–29	6–35	4–26

^[34]

#	Eastern Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	c-Detroit Pistons	59	23	.720	–
2	y-Philadelphia 76ers	53	29	.646	6
3	x-Chicago Bulls	55	27	.671	4
4	x-Boston Celtics	52	30	.634	7
5	x-New York Knicks	45	37	.549	14
6	x-Milwaukee Bucks	44	38	.537	15
7	x-Cleveland Cavaliers	42	40	.512	17
8	x-Indiana Pacers	42	40	.512	17
9	Atlanta Hawks	41	41	.500	18
10	Washington Bullets	31	51	.378	28
11	Miami Heat	18	64	.220	41
12	Orlando Magic	18	64	.220	41
13	New Jersey Nets	17	65	.207	42

z – clinched division title

y – clinched division title

x – clinched playoff spot

Game log

Regular season

1989–90 game log Total: 18–64 (Home: 12–29; Road: 6–35)
November: 7–7 (home: 4–3; road: 3–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 November 4 New Jersey L 106–111 Terry Catledge (25) Terry Catledge (16) Scott Skiles (7) Orlando Arena 15,077 0–1 2 November 6 New York W 118–110 Reggie Theus (24) Jerry Reynolds (12) Scott Skiles, (8) Orlando Arena 15,077 1–1 3 November 8 @ Cleveland W 117–110 Reggie Theus (26) Terry Catledge (12) Sam Vincent (11) Richfield Coliseum 14,110 2–1 4 November 10 Detroit L 121–125 Terry Catledge (27) Sidney Green (10) Sam Vincent (10) Orlando Arena 15,077 2–2 5 November 11 @ Atlanta L 109–148 Reggie Theus (25) Terry Catledge (11) Scott Skiles (7) Omni Coliseum 12,505 2–3 6 November 13 Atlanta L 112–104 Jerry Reynolds, Terry Catledge (18) Terry Catledge (11) Jerry Reynolds (4) Orlando Arena 15,077 2–4 7 November 14 @ Charlotte L 116–130 Jerry Reynolds (22) Nick Anderson (8) Reggie Theus (8) Charlotte Coliseum 23,901 2–5 8 November 16 @ Milwaukee L 113–132 Reggie Theus (33) Mark Acres (13) Nick Anderson, Reggie Theus (4) Bradley Center 13,298 2–6 9 November 18 Philadelphia W 116–103 Reggie Theus (30) Terry Catledge (14) Sam Vincent (16) Orlando Arena 15,077 3–6 10 November 21 @ Sacramento W 115–113 Jerry Reynolds (28) Mark Acres (10) Sam Vincent (6) ARCO Arena 17,014 4–6 11 November 22 @ Utah W 119–97 Reynolds, Green, Vincent (22) Sidney Green (13) Reggie Theus (13) Salt Palace 12,616 5–6 12 November 24 @ Phoenix L 94–121 Michael Ansley (20) Michael Ansley (13) Sam Vincent, Morlon Wiley (4) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 13,173 5–7 13 November 28 Miami W 104–99 Terry Catledge (26) Sidney Green (13) Sam Vincent (10) Orlando Arena 15,077 6–7 14 November 30 Minnesota W 103–96 Terry Catledge (25) Terry Catledge (12) Reggie Theus (8) Orlando Arena 15,077 7–7
December: 2–13 (home: 2–4; road: 0–9) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 15 December 1 @ Indiana 16 December 4 Portland 17 December 6 Atlanta 18 December 8 @ Miami L 114–122 (OT) Miami Arena 7–11 19 December 10 L.A. Lakers 20 December 12 @ Milwaukee 21 December 14 @ Chicago 22 December 16 @ San Antonio 23 December 17 @ Houston 24 December 20 Chicago 25 December 22 Denver 26 December 23 @ Detroit 27 December 26 @ Indiana 28 December 27 Indiana 29 December 30 @ New York
January: 4–10 (home: 3–5; road: 1–5) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 30 January 2 Detroit 31 January 5 @ Chicago 32 January 6 Cleveland 33 January 8 San Antonio 34 January 10 @ L.A. Lakers 35 January 11 @ Denver 36 January 13 @ Golden State 37 January 17 Boston 38 January 19 New Jersey 39 January 22 Phoenix 40 January 24 @ Philadelphia 41 January 25 @ New Jersey 42 January 27 Atlanta 43 January 30 Indiana
February: 3–10 (home: 3–3; road: 0–7) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 44 February 1 @ Milwaukee 45 February 3 L.A. Clippers 46 February 6 New York 47 February 8 Philadelphia 48 February 14 Chicago 49 February 15 @ Atlanta 50 February 17 @ Dallas 51 February 20 Seattle 52 February 21 @ Detroit 53 February 23 @ Cleveland 54 February 24 @ Washington 55 February 26 @ Philadelphia 56 February 27 Charlotte W 115–109 Orlando Arena 16–40
March: 1–13 (home: 0–8; road: 1–5) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 57 March 1 Sacramento 58 March 3 Washington 59 March 6 Utah 60 March 7 @ Miami L 105–122 Miami Arena 16–44 61 March 10 @ L.A. Clippers 62 March 12 @ Seattle 63 March 13 @ Portland 64 March 16 Boston 65 March 18 Cleveland 66 March 20 @ New York 67 March 22 Dallas 68 March 24 Milwaukee 69 March 28 Miami L 104–109 Orlando Arena 17–52 70 March 30 @ Washington
April: 1–11 (home: 0–6; road: 1–5) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 71 April 1 @ Boston 72 April 3 Golden State 73 April 5 @ Chicago 74 April 6 @ Indiana 75 April 8 Houston 76 April 10 Milwaukee 77 April 13 @ Minnesota L 102–117[ permanent dead link ] Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 17–60 78 April 14 @ Detroit 79 April 17 Washington 80 April 18 @ Boston 81 April 20 Cleveland 82 April 22 @ New Jersey
1989–90 schedule

Player statistics

Ragular season

Player	POS	GP	GS	MP	REB	AST	STL	BLK	PTS	MPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Nick Anderson	SG	81	9	1,785	316	124	69	34	931	22.0	3.9	1.5	.9	.4	11.5
Mark Acres	C	80	50	1,691	431	67	36	25	362	21.1	5.4	.8	.5	.3	4.5
Reggie Theus	SG	76	71	2,350	221	407	60	12	1,438	30.9	2.9	5.4	.8	.2	18.9
Terry Catledge	PF	74	72	2,462	563	72	36	17	1,435	33.3	7.6	1.0	.5	.2	19.4
Sidney Green	C	73	31	1,860	588	99	50	26	761	25.5	8.1	1.4	.7	.4	10.4
Michael Ansley	SF	72	5	1,221	362	40	24	17	626	17.0	5.0	.6	.3	.2	8.7
Scott Skiles	PG	70	32	1,460	159	334	36	4	536	20.9	2.3	4.8	.5	.1	7.7
Jerry Reynolds	SF	67	40	1,817	323	180	93	64	858	27.1	4.8	2.7	1.4	1.0	12.8
Otis Smith	SF	65	35	1,644	300	147	76	57	875	25.3	4.6	2.3	1.2	.9	13.5
Sam Vincent	PG	63	45	1,657	194	354	65	20	705	26.3	3.1	5.6	1.0	.3	11.2
Jeff Turner	PF	60	15	1,105	227	53	23	12	308	18.4	3.8	.9	.4	.2	5.1
Morlon Wiley	PG	40	2	638	52	114	45	3	229	16.0	1.3	2.9	1.1	.1	5.7
Dave Corzine	C	6	3	79	18	2	2	0	22	13.2	3.0	.3	.3	.0	3.7
Jawann Oldham †	C	3	0	36	15	0	2	3	4	12.0	5.0	.0	.7	1.0	1.3

• ^† Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Magic only.

References

1. 1989-90 Orlando Magic
2. "Abracadabra! It's Magic; Orlando's Prospective NBA Team Now Has a Name". Orlando Sentinel. July 27, 1986. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
3. Goldaper, Sam (April 23, 1987). "No Headline". The New York Times. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
4. "NBA Gives Florida Two Franchises -- Miami, Orlando: League Also Grants Expansion Teams to Minneapolis and Charlotte for $32.5 Million". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. April 23, 1987. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
5. "Philadelphia 76ers General Manager Pat Williams Will Become the..." United Press International. June 19, 1986. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
6. Blumenstyk, Goldie; Cooper, Barry (February 26, 1987). "NBA to Inspect Orlando on Monday". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
7. "Magic Chronology". Orlando Sentinel. November 3, 1989. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
8. "Orlando Magic Logo". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
9. "Orlando Magic Uniform". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
10. "Orlando Magic Uniform". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
11. Brown, Clifton (June 16, 1989). "Knicks' Green Is Taken First in N.B.A.'s Expansion Draft". The New York Times. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
12. Howard-Cooper, Scott (June 16, 1989). "NBA Expansion Draft: Timberwolves Get Mahorn; Lakers Lose Rivers". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
13. "1989 NBA Expansion Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
14. McManis, Sam (June 28, 1989). "THE NBA DRAFT: The Other Teams: Sacramento's Secret Is Out: It's Ellison". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
15. Cooper, Barry (June 28, 1989). "Magic Goes for Quick Fix". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
16. "1989 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
17. Cooper, Barry (May 27, 1988). "Magic May Conjure Up First Coach in Former 76ers Chief". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
18. "SPORTS PEOPLE; Guokas Joins Magic". The New York Times. June 2, 1988. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
19. Brown, Clifton (November 5, 1989). "PRO BASKETBALL; Nets Keep Calm to Edge the Magic". The New York Times. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
20. Dezern, Craig (November 5, 1989). "A Jumping, Stomping, Hand-Clapping Debut". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
21. "New Jersey Nets at Orlando Magic Box Score, November 4, 1989". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
22. Brown, Clifton (November 7, 1989). "Knicks Shocked by Magic". The New York Times. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
23. "Orlando Gets Bit of Magic, Beats Knicks". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. November 7, 1989. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
24. "New York Knicks at Orlando Magic Box Score, November 6, 1989". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
25. "1989–90 Orlando Magic Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
26. Orlando Magic (1989-Present)
27. "1989–90 Orlando Magic Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
28. Stutzman, Rene (June 25, 1990). "Magic Trade Reggie Theus to Nets". United Press International. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
29. Brown, Clifton (June 26, 1990). "Nets Trade '93 and '95 Draft Picks for Theus". The New York Times. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
30. Cooper, Barry (June 27, 1990). "Theus Counts Bitter Numbers, "Damage Control Is $200,000"". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
31. Povtak, Tim (February 15, 1990). "Orlando Thief Gets Jordan's Number". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
32. Harris, John (February 15, 1990). "Magic Tops Bulls in O.T., 135-129; Orlando Overcomes Jordan's 49 Behind Catledge, Theus and Skiles". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
33. "Orlando Magic Reveal Real Story of Michael Jordan No. 12 Jersey Game". NBC Sports. April 21, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
34. 1989-90 NBA Season Summary - Basketball-Reference.com

• Orlando Magic on Database Basketball
• Orlando Magic on Basketball Reference