# 1989–90 Orlando Magic season

The 1989–90 NBA season was the inaugural season for the Orlando Magic in the National Basketball Association. 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. 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. 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. The team also added new pinstripe uniforms, adding blue, black and silver to their color scheme.
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. The Magic received the eleventh overall pick in the 1989 NBA draft, and selected shooting guard Nick Anderson from the University of Illinois. The team also hired Matt Guokas as their first ever head coach.
On November 4, 1989, a sold-out crowd watched the Magic lose, 111–106 to the New Jersey Nets in the first ever game played at the Orlando Arena. On November 6, the franchise experienced its first victory as the Magic stunned the New York Knicks, 118–110. The Magic got off to a surprising start, posting a 7–7 record in November. 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. 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.
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. 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. Following the season, Theus was traded to the New Jersey Nets after just one season with the Magic.
The team's primary logo remained in use until 2000, while the uniforms lasted 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

| 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 |

## 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 Divisionvte | 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 |
| # | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte |
| # | 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

### Record vs. opponents

1989–90 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 | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | – | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–5 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 5–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
| Boston | 3–1 | – | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 5–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 |
| Charlotte | 0–2 | 0–2 | – | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–5 | 0–4 | 0–5 | 0–2 |
| Chicago | 5–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | – | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 |
| Cleveland | 3–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–5 | – | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| Dallas | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | – | 2–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
| Denver | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | – | 0–2 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 |
| Detroit | 2–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 5–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 |
| Golden State | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | – | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Houston | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 2–2 | – | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
| Indiana | 3–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | – | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 4–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| L.A. Clippers | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | – | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–5 | 2–3 | 0–4 | 3–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 |
| L.A. Lakers | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–1 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 5–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Miami | 0–4 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | – | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 3–1 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 |
| Milwaukee | 2–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | – | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 5–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 |
| Minnesota | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 0–5 | 1–1 |
| New Jersey | 2–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | – | 1–4 | 1–3 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 |
| New York | 3–1 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–1 | – | 2–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 |
| Orlando | 0–5 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | – | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 |
| Philadelphia | 2–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 2–2 | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 |
| Phoenix | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 5–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | – | 2–3 | 5–0 | 0–4 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 |
| Portland | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | – | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Sacramento | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 0–4 | – | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
| San Antonio | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | – | 3–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | – | 1–3 | 2–0 |
| Utah | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 3–1 | – | 2–0 |
| Washington | 2–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–5 | 4–0 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — |

## 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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
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
Patrick Ewing (29)
Jerry Reynolds, Charles Oakley (12)
Scott Skiles, Mark Jackson (12)
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
Isiah Thomas (29)
Sidney Green, Bill Laimbeer (10)
Sam Vincent (10)
Orlando Arena 15,077
2-2
5
November 11
@ Atlanta
6
November 13
Atlanta
7
November 14
@ Charlotte
L 116–130
Charlotte Coliseum
2–5
8
November 16
@ Milwaukee
9
November 18
Philadelphia
10
November 21
@ Sacramento
11
November 22
@ Utah
12
November 24
@ Phoenix
13
November 28
Miami
W 104–99
Orlando Arena
6–7
14
November 30
Minnesota
W 103–96
Orlando Arena
7–7 :
December: 2–13 (home: 2–4; road: 0–9)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
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
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.