The Orlando Magic Basketball Team Sports Essay Example

resulted in him missing 22 games in the 95-96 season, leading to his sudden departure from the Magic to pursue acting while continuing his NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Shaq's betrayal had a significant impact on the Magic, taking them several years to recover after he left. They did reach the playoffs during the 96-97 season but were eliminated in the first round by Miami Heat. It wasn't until afterthe99-00season that new head coach Doc Rivers recruited free agents Tracy McGrady and Grant Hill, revitalizingthe team's prospects.

Tracy McGrady effectively upheld the momentum of the Orlando Magic team, despite Grant Hill's recurring injuries. In his four seasons with the Magic, McGrady quickly became their standout player and received recognition as the NBA's most improved player. Additionally, he achieved the highest scoring record in the league two times. During his final year with the Magic, McGrady faced immense pressure to perform well and regularly expressed his frustrations to the media.

After the 03-04 season, a trade sent him to the Houston Rockets, which sparked hope among Orlando Magic fans. They saw this as an opportunity for new beginnings. The Magic took advantage of this chance by using their top draft pick to choose Dwight "Superman" Howard, a 6'11" center-forward and High School Player of the Year. In exchange for Tracy McGrady, they acquired Steve Francis from Houston. Despite struggling and going through multiple coaching changes with Doc Rivers, Johnny Davis, Chris Jent, and Billy Donovan, the unproductive years for the Magic eventually led to the formation of a team that could overcome challenges and pave a path towards their greatest triumph yet.

The 07-08 season was significant for

the Orlando Magic as they strived to establish their city's reputation in basketball. The team had new talent, a committed training staff, and a determined front office, all working towards filling the void of being the only national franchise in professional sports in Orlando. Led by Coach Stan Van Gundy, they accomplished remarkable feats including winning their first division title since '96 and reintroducing themselves to the global stage.

In the 2008-2009 season, the Orlando Magic, led by Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis, and Hedo Turkoglu, reached the NBA Finals but were defeated by the Los Angeles Lakers with a 4-1 series score. In the following season, they were unable to secure another championship opportunity as they lost to the Boston Celtics in the conference finals. The Celtics then went on to lose to the Lakers in the Finals. Currently competing at their new Amway Center arena during the 2010-2011 season, the Magic are determined to earn a spot in playoffs. They executed a significant mid-season trade that brought back Turkoglu (previously traded in '09) and acquired Gilbert Arenas as they have their sights set on nothing less than winning a championship.

Orlando Magic Staff

Otis Smith - President of Basketball Operations

On July 28, 2010, Otis Smith became the president of basketball operations. In this role, he oversees different aspects such as player acquisitions through the draft, free agency, and trades. He is also responsible for player development, scouting, and salary cap management. Before becoming president of basketball operations, Smith was the general manager starting from May 3, 2006. Prior to that, he held positions as assistant general manager in the 2005-06 season and manager of player development for

two seasons. Under his leadership during the 2009-10 season, the Orlando Magic had a regular season record of 59-23 (.720), which was second-best in the NBA. They achieved their second consecutive appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals and secured their third consecutive Southeast Division Crown and fifth division title overall.

Orlando achieved their third consecutive 50-win season and the sixth time in team history. They also secured a playoff spot for the fourth straight year. In the previous off-season, Smith orchestrated multiple changes to the team, including acquiring eight-time NBA All-Star Vince Carter and Ryan Anderson from New Jersey through trades. Smith has previous Orlando experience as he played for them from 1989-1992, being part of the inaugural Magic team. Throughout his tenure with Orlando, he maintained an average of 11.4 points per game and 4.1 rebounds per game.

The player's NBA regular season games played with Denver, Golden State, and Orlando summed up to 375. When playing for the Magic team, he had an average of 10.5 points per game (ppg.), 3.8 rebounds per game (rpg.), 1.8 assists per game (apg.), and 1.01 steals per game (stlpg.) in a total of 195 games.

Smith, born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida and a graduate of Jacksonville University in 1986, had a successful basketball career where he averaged 1.01 steals in 20.6 minutes per game. After retiring from the sport, he became the community relations director for the Magic for two years.

During his time with the organization, they received the Pro Team Community Award from the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame.

In addition to his work with the Magic, Smith also held positions as vice president of marketing and

community relations for the Boys and Girls Club of Central Florida.

Furthermore, on October 30, 1989, he established the Otis Smith Kids Foundation to enhance the quality of life for deserving elementary school students in Northeast Florida.

The Foundation supported hundreds of disadvantaged children each year in the areas of education, life skills development, and personal growth. Over a span of almost 17 years, this nonprofit organization positively impacted the lives of thousands of children in Jacksonville by providing opportunities for learning, growth, and success.

Stan Van Gundy - Head Coach

On June 7, 2007, Stan Van Gundy was appointed as the head coach for the Orlando Magic. He became the ninth head coach in franchise history. In his third season with the Magic, Van Gundy led the team to two consecutive appearances in the Eastern Conference Finals. They achieved an impressive regular season record of 59-23 (.720), which ranked as the NBA's second-best. Orlando secured their division title for three seasons consecutively and fifth overall.

Throughout their team history, they have achieved the 50-win milestone for the third consecutive season and sixth time overall. Van Gundy's overall record as an NBA head coach now stands at 282-149 (.654), with a specific record of 170-76 (.691) with the Magic. He led the Eastern Conference to victory in the 2010 NBA All-Star Game held in Dallas, with a final score of 141-139. On February 7th, Van Gundy reached his 400th regular season game as coach, placing him third among active head coaches for most wins after that many games (257 victories). He was honored twice as the NBA's Eastern Conference Coach of the Month - once in October/November 2009 and again

in April 2010 - making it his fifth and sixth instances receiving this monthly coaching award. During his second year coaching the Magic, Van Gundy successfully guided them through an unforgettable playoff run which resulted in winning the title for the Eastern Conference in 2009 and securing their second trip to the NBA Finals.

During the regular season, Orlando achieved a record of 59-23 (.720) and won the Southeast Division. This marked their second consecutive division crown and fourth overall in team history. Under Van Gundy's coaching in the 2007-2008 season, the Magic had a record of 52-30 (.634) and also became champions of the Southeast Division for the first time since 1995-1996.

In 1996, Orlando made their first playoff appearance and advanced past the first round by defeating Toronto with a series win of 4-1. Prior to coaching Orlando, Van Gundy was head coach for two-plus seasons from 2003-2005 with Miami Heat. During this time, he accumulated a regular season record of 112-73 and a postseason record of 17-11.

His.605 habitue season and.607 playoff winning percentages are the highest in franchise history for him. He is ranked 2nd on the Heat's all-time list with 17 playoff victories, and his 112 regular season wins put him in 3rd place in squad history.

Van Gundy was appointed head coach of the Eastern Conference All-Stars for the 2005 NBA All-Star Game in Denver, where he led the East to a 10-point victory. Additionally, he received NBA Eastern Conference Coach of the Month honors both in December 2004 and March 2005.

The Heat had an impressive franchise-record winning streak of 14 games from Dec.6-Jan.

1 and then went on to win 12 straight games

from Feb. 26 to Mar. 19, making them the first Eastern Conference team since the 1995-96 NBA Champion Chicago Bulls to accomplish this. The player hails from Indio, Ca.

Van Gundy, who was born on Aug. 26, 1959, attended SUNY-Brockport and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a Bachelor of Science in physical education in 1981. While at SUNY-Brockport, he played basketball for his father, Bill. His brother Jeff also enjoyed a successful NBA head coaching career for 11 seasons, with his most recent position being with the Houston Rockets.

Kim is Van Gundy's spouse and together they have four children: Shannon (19), Michael (16), Alison (13), and Kelly (11).

Richard DeVos - Owner

Richard DeVos, 82 years old, has been the president of the Orlando Magic ownership group for 18 seasons. He is also a co-founder of Amway Corp., a prominent company in direct merchandising under Alticor Inc.

Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on March 4, 1926, he is an extraordinary success story. He partnered with his high school classmate Jay Van Andel from 1945 to 1958 to create several businesses. In 1959, they founded Amway which later became a subsidiary of Alticor, a newly formed parent company. This parent company also included two sister companies: Quixtar Inc., established in October 2000.

Alticor and Access Business Group LLC are both subsidiaries of the North American conglomerate founded by Richard DeVos. Alticor, a web-based business opportunity, reported global sales of $7.1 billion in 2007 with support from over 3 million independent business owners across more than 80 countries. Access Business Group LLC provides product development, manufacturing, and logistics services to Amway, Quixtar, and other companies.

Richard DeVos

is a highly accomplished individual who has received numerous achievement awards and holds 12 honorary doctorate degrees. He is also an author of four books: BELIEVE!, Compassionate Capitalism, Hope From My Heart: Ten Lessons for Life, and most recently, Ten Powerful Phrases for Positive People.

The Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation, founded by Richard DeVos and his wife Helen, is dedicated to supporting organizations they believe in. Their focus is on promoting the entrepreneurial spirit and improving people's lives. The DeVos family resides in southern Florida with their four children - Dick and Betsy, Dan and Pam, Cheri Vander Weide and Bob Vander Weide, Doug and Maria - as well as 16 grandchildren.

Adjunct Coaches:

• Brendan Malone
• Patrick Ewing
• Steve Clifford
• Bob Beyer
• Ahmad Ajami - Video Coordinator

Executives:

• Bob Vander Weide - President/CEO

Dwight Howard amazed the crowd at the 2008 NBA All-Star weekend by winning the slam dunk competition with his innovative execution of the all-time great dunk, involving leaping from the free throw line.

The Amway Arena

The Amway Center in Orlando is a cutting-edge venue that hosts various sports and entertainment events, including games for the Orlando Magic (NBA) and Orlando Predators (AFL). The collaboration between Amway, the City of Orlando, and the Orlando Magic made it possible to establish this facility. The Amway Arena and the Orlando Magic became part of the NBA in 1989. Richard DeVos, founder of the Amway Arena, has been advocating for a new arena for more than ten years.

The Old Amway, the oldest sphere in the conference, was rumored in the late 1990s to be looking for a new and improved location. On

September 29, 2006, approval for a new sphere was finally given by Orlando's city manager, Buddy Dyer. The new location would be in the business district of Orlando, specifically at the junction of Church Street and Hughey Avenue. The cost of the sphere itself was approximately 380 million dollars, with an additional 100 million dollars allocated for land and substructure, making a total of 480 million dollars.

The design of the new Amway Arena

The Amway Center Art Collection was curated by California-based art conservator Sports and the Arts.

The collection at the aggregation consists of over 340 art plants, including approximately 200 high-quality exhibitions. Out of the 21 artists in the collection, 14 are from Central Florida. Ripbang Studios Inc., located in Venice Beach, California, was responsible for designing various elements of the Amway Center Arena from 2008 to 2010. This included signage for the building's exterior, interior, wayfinding, grants, retail, and patron zones. The Box Office Plaza features several elements such as a 50-foot tall rain sculpture, fans and oversized chairs, the ORLANDO sign at the corner of Church and Division Streets, the Orlando Magic Team Store sponsored by Adidas, Gentleman Jack Terrace outdoor bar, Nutrilite Magic Fan Experience, Orlando on Demand Info Garden, Airtran Airways Flight Deck patron zone, Kia Motors Terrace patron deck, Stuff's Magic Castle child play area, Magic Stuff child retail store, OZONE Bowl Sign and Fan Deck, and the O3 Beverage Bar. In May 2010, the Sports and Arts team was awarded the role of art consultant for the creation and installation of fine art work, photography, and large format artworks.

The Amway Center is home to over 140 pieces of artwork,

200+ photographs, and written wall interventions that represent the Orlando Magic and Central Florida community. This venue is known for its advanced technology, boasting the tallest center-hung installation in any NBA arena. Manufactured by Daktronics of Brookings, South Dakota, the installation features 18 displays with high definition 6mm-pixel technology, including two digital ring displays and four tapered corners.

The Amway Center features several digital displays, including approximately 2,100 feet (640 meters) of digital thread boards. The largest display measures 360 feet (110 meters) and surrounds the entire seating bowl. These displays can showcase dynamic graphics and real-time content, such as game statistics, scores from other games, and closed captioning information. Outside the building, a massive display consisting of over 5,000 Daktronics ProPixe LED sticks, each one meter long, forms a 46-foot by 53-foot (14-meter by 16-meter) video wall. This display is visible to millions of drivers passing by on Interstate 4. In terms of seating, the Amway Center offers a combination of mid-level luxury seats and club seating located below the upper bowl. This design is unique as it positions luxury boxes above all other seats and suspended from the ceiling.

The unveiling of the sphere design took place at the Amway Arena on December 10, 2007, followed by an official press release the next day. The design of the Amway Center floor incorporates features specifically for sphere football, such as retractable sections that allow for squared end zone corners, a feature that was previously not possible for Orlando Predators games.

Orlando Magic's Charities

The Orlando Magic takes great pride in being associated with the Amway Center, but it required a significant amount of influence to have the sphere

built. The owners of the Orlando Magic agreed to finance the construction of five new community gyms in Orange County as a condition for approval of their new Center. Each community gym will include a cardio and weight room, locker suites, game suites, a grant foundation, and a meeting space.

Furthermore, the Orlando Magic is recognized for their involvement in various charities. In the previous year, the Magic team and staff dedicated over 5,000 voluntary hours, impacting over 75,000 young individuals. Additionally, they have generously distributed 62,000 tickets to underprivileged children who would otherwise be unable to attend games. These tickets are provided to their families. The two prominent charities that the Magic actively participate in are the Orlando Magic Youth Fund and NBA Cares. The Orlando Magic Youth Fund aims to support programs and collaborations that enable every child in Central Florida to realize their full potential.

The OMYF provides assistance and support to individuals in Orange, Seminole, and Osceola counties, as well as in Brevard, Flagler, Lake, Polk, and Volusia counties. Their main focus areas include literacy, wellness and health programs, the arts, and occasional support for specific projects. In terms of literacy, OMYF helps fund non-profit organizations that offer in-school and after-school programs for school-age children at risk of illiteracy. They also recognize programs that emphasize parental involvement in a child's education. Through their wellness and health initiatives, OMYF promotes education on nutrition and exercise to encourage a healthy lifestyle and combat obesity.

The Orlando Magic Foundation (OMYF) seeks to combat malnutrition and alleviate hunger for children and young people in Central Florida. In addition to supporting arts and cultural programs, the OMYF also focuses

on educational enrichment. The Orlando Magic collaborates with the NBA, conference participants, and teams to raise $100 million for charities, contribute over 1 million hours of volunteer service, and create more than 100 learning and play spaces for kids within the next five years. One of their initiatives is the "Be Healthy Lunch Program" in partnership with the Florida Hospital and Wholesome Tummies. Through generous donations, this program provides lunches to a group of students throughout the entire 2009-2010 school year.

These meals typically consist of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Additionally, they award a $10,000 scholarship to a high school student living in Orange, Osecola, Seminole, Brevard, Polk, Lake, Volusia, or Hillsborough counties since 1996. Overall, they have granted 16 scholarships to help high school students afford college. Furthermore, the owners of the Magic have contributed to the establishment of a graduate program at the University of Central Florida. The DeVos Sport Business Program received a $2.5 million donation from the Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation, which was matched by the state of Florida. This program was launched in 2002 and is regarded as highly successful, ranking among the top five sports business management programs in the United States.

Orlando Magic Impact

The Orlando Magic have brought an impressive basketball team to the Central Florida community. While they may not win every season, the Magic always prove to be an intriguing and enjoyable group. Additionally, the team consistently demonstrates their dedication to their staff, players, the new Amway Center, and the local children. Without the Orlando Magic, much of the enchantment would fade beyond Disney's walls, but they persist in helping the

City Beautiful shine.