1996–97 Orlando Magic season
The 1996–97 NBA season was the Magic's eighth season in the National Basketball Association. After losing Shaquille O'Neal via free agency to the Los Angeles Lakers in the off-season, the Magic acquired Felton Spencer from the Utah Jazz, and signed free agents Gerald Wilkins, Derek Strong and Danny Schayes. However, after playing just one game for the team, Spencer was then dealt along with Donald Royal to the Golden State Warriors for Rony Seikaly. Early into the season, the Magic played two games against the New Jersey Nets in Tokyo, Japan. After an 8–4  start in November, the Magic struggled losing 10 of their 12 games in December. Head coach Brian Hill was fired 49 games into the season after a 24–25 start, and Anfernee Hardaway was generally blamed for leading a player revolt that resulted in his dismissal. Hill was replaced with assistant Richie Adubato for the remainder of the season, as the Magic finished third in the Atlantic Division with a 45–37 record. Hardaway averaged 20.5 points, 5.6 assists and 1.6 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, and was selected for the 1997 NBA All-Star  Game, despite only playing 59 games due to a knee injury, while Seikaly averaged 17.3 points, 9.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game, and Horace Grant provided the team with 12.6 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. In addition, three-point specialist Dennis Scott contributed 12.5 points per game, and Nick Anderson provided with 12.0 points and 1.9 steals per game, but struggled shooting just .404 in free-throw percentage. Off the bench, Wilkins contributed 10.6 points per game, and Strong averaged 8.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. The Magic entered the playoffs without Grant, who was  out with a wrist injury, and was replaced with Strong in the lineup at power forward. In the Eastern Conference First Round, the Magic lost in five games to their in-state rivals, the Miami Heat. Hardaway scored 42 points in Game 3, and 41 points in Game 4 where the Magic evened the series at 2–2 before losing Game 5. As of 2022, this was the only playoff matchup between both teams from Florida. Following the season, Scott was traded to the Dallas Mavericks after a meltdown about a contract dispute at a basketball camp during the summer, while  Brian Shaw was dealt to the Golden State Warriors, and Adubato was fired as head coach. Player statistics. NOTE: Please write the players statistics in alphabetical order by last name.