It’s said that the Orlando Magic can sometimes feel like they are not a priority, even in their own city.
That was also the case thirty years ago, until a 7-foot-1 center out of LSU showed up and essentially put the Orlando Magic on the map.
Now Shaquille O’Neal is looking to provide a jolt to Orlando once more – this time off the court.
On a recent podcast, O’Neal said he is open to becoming owner of the Magic some day.
Orlando Magic legends, @SHAQ and @Dennis3DScott, are ready to purchase the franchise 👀 pic.twitter.com/9TXHftpGPC
— Be Magic Or Be Gone! (@BeORLMagic) June 25, 2022
O’Neal said, “Listen we still run that franchise [Magic]. If they wanna sell it to us, DeVos family, we’re ready to go right now. This message to go out to the DeVos family, if you’re ready to sell Orlando Magic, sell it to somebody who’s gonna take it to the next level, that’s us. D[ennis] Scott and then, D Scott can pick everybody else. Smart people combined with common sense people and people that’s been there before, you can’t go wrong.”
Scott played with O’Neal in Orlando from 1992-1996, and has kept in touch as one of O’Neal’s closest friends.
Like O’Neal, Scott has had previous experience in managing NBA Franchises, as Scott served as the General Manager of the Atlanta Vision of the American Basketball Association.
Even with just a short, four-year tenure, O’Neal is one of the greatest players in the franchise’s history.
In 1995, O’Neal, along with Scott, Penny Hardaway, Nick Anderson and Horace Grant, led the Magic to their first NBA Finals appearance.
The DeVos family has owned the Magic since 1991.
Even after Amway co-founder Richard DeVos passed away in 2018 they haven’t shown much interest in selling the team.
O’Neal was a minority owner for the Kings before he sold his stake in January.
It will take a lot to turn the Magic around as Orlando has failed to make the playoffs in eight of the past ten years, and hasn’t advanced past the first round since the 2009-2010 season.
Also, Orlando is coming off a 21-51 Regular Season in 2021-2022 after trading their three Franchise Cornerstones in the previous season.
Even still, the Magic currently hold one of the NBA’s youngest cores, headlined by Wendell Carter Jr., Cole Anthony, Jalen Suggs, and Franz Wagner giving the team a bright future.
Sports with Balls will keep you up-to-date on any developments to this ongoing story.
