2006: Year in Review
By Amanda Norvell | January 4, 2007
2006 was quite a year for the Magic, filled with many memorable moments, and after a stellar start to the 2006-07 season surely there are plenty more good memories to come. Here are a few highlights from 2006...
• In February Darko Milicic and Carlos Arroyo were acquired from Detroit leaving the frigid north and sporadic playing time for a sunny and more promising Orlando. Since joining Orlando both players have made quite an impact, and both players are happy to be a part of what the team is doing. “The Magic have given me the opportunity I’ve always wanted, which is to play,” said Arroyo. “They’ve embraced me since day one and opened doors for me to be a big part of this franchise.”
• Also in February the Magic picked up a Penny – Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway. They then immediately waived a Penny. But in the same trade the Magic acquired Trevor Ariza while saying goodbye to Steve Francis. When asked about his favorite memory from 2006, Ariza said with a smile, “Being traded to Orlando!” Since his trade, Ariza has exploded in Orlando.
• After a combined 8-21 January and February the Magic surged to a 16-6 finish in March and April. The best 22-game finish in franchise history. And even though the season was over there was a buzz in the air. Said Coach Brian Hill, “Personally I derive a lot of satisfaction with the way we finished off last season. I felt good that nobody quit and we played hard and together until the end. This year is going to be harder because we are not going to sneak up on anybody.”
• Following the end of the season Dwight Howard participated in Team USA Basketball at the FIBA World Championships. Howard played with NBA elitists such as Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony – and found out that he fits into that elitist category as well with experts predicting he would be a part of USA Basketball as long as he wants to.
• Arroyo and Milicic also helped out their home countries in the FIBA World Championships – maybe led is a better term. Arroyo averaged 21.2 points, 5.2 assists and 4.6 rebounds for Puerto Rico while Milicic averaged 16.1 points and 9.3 rebounds for Serbia and Montenegro.
• In June the Magic also had what General Manager Otis Smith called, “A slam-dunk draft,” signing draft picks J.J. Redick of Duke and James Augustine of Illinois. “I actually didn’t hear my name called,” said Augustine of his draft night at the Orlando Magic press conference the next day. A reporter then retorted, “So you’re telling me you worked all your life to be drafted and then missed it when they called your name?” Laughing Augustine smiled and responded, “Yep.”
• In July the Magic said goodbye to last year’s starting shooting guard DeShawn Stevenson after an agreeable contract couldn’t be reached and brought back one of their previous own, Keith Bogans. “I never wanted to leave in the first place,” said Bogans. “I’m happy to be home.”
• Also in July the Magic also welcomed back their all-time leading scorer and first-ever NBA draft selection, Nick Anderson – but not to the court, to the community. Anderson joined the community relations department as a community ambassador, taking part in a wide array of community initiatives.
• Another summer activity included some of the Magic players traveling around the globe to participate in Basketball Without Borders. One of those was Pat Garrity.
“My best memory from 2006 would be my trip to China for Basketball Without Borders,” said Garrity. He spent four days in Shanghai, China with other members of the NBA hosting a basketball instructional camp for young people. The camp also promotes friendship, healthy living and education. Bo Outlaw and Arroyo also participated in the Basketball Without Borders program.
• Towards the end of July the Magic resigned free-agent Ariza, which was noted by experts as one of the most underrated moves of the summer.
And those experts seem to be right, as Ariza is certainly giving the Magic dividends on their investment. In the past seven games of the current season, Ariza is averaging 15.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.86 steals per game.
• Following those summer moves the Magic were relatively quite – until the jolted the NBA landscape with a 14-5 start to the season – the best start since the 1995-96 season. This early jump finally drew some serious media attention with ESPN’s Greg Anthony saying he didn’t think the Magic would see this kind of success so early. “They have great character. General Manager Otis Smith and the front office have done a good job of assembling quality people on this team – that’s an important thing when trying to develop young talent – their maturation has been expedited.”
• Following that amazing start, the injury bug took a small toll on the team and they went 6-10 in December following their early onslaught of 12-4 in November. The bright side? The majority of the team is healthy again, not to mention they ended the year with a 29-point blowout of the defending champions, the Miami Heat. Bring on 2007…
Amanda Norvell is an Communications intern for the Orlando Magic
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• In February Darko Milicic and Carlos Arroyo were acquired from Detroit leaving the frigid north and sporadic playing time for a sunny and more promising Orlando. Since joining Orlando both players have made quite an impact, and both players are happy to be a part of what the team is doing. “The Magic have given me the opportunity I’ve always wanted, which is to play,” said Arroyo. “They’ve embraced me since day one and opened doors for me to be a big part of this franchise.”
• Also in February the Magic picked up a Penny – Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway. They then immediately waived a Penny. But in the same trade the Magic acquired Trevor Ariza while saying goodbye to Steve Francis. When asked about his favorite memory from 2006, Ariza said with a smile, “Being traded to Orlando!” Since his trade, Ariza has exploded in Orlando.
• After a combined 8-21 January and February the Magic surged to a 16-6 finish in March and April. The best 22-game finish in franchise history. And even though the season was over there was a buzz in the air. Said Coach Brian Hill, “Personally I derive a lot of satisfaction with the way we finished off last season. I felt good that nobody quit and we played hard and together until the end. This year is going to be harder because we are not going to sneak up on anybody.”
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• Arroyo and Milicic also helped out their home countries in the FIBA World Championships – maybe led is a better term. Arroyo averaged 21.2 points, 5.2 assists and 4.6 rebounds for Puerto Rico while Milicic averaged 16.1 points and 9.3 rebounds for Serbia and Montenegro.
• In June the Magic also had what General Manager Otis Smith called, “A slam-dunk draft,” signing draft picks J.J. Redick of Duke and James Augustine of Illinois. “I actually didn’t hear my name called,” said Augustine of his draft night at the Orlando Magic press conference the next day. A reporter then retorted, “So you’re telling me you worked all your life to be drafted and then missed it when they called your name?” Laughing Augustine smiled and responded, “Yep.”
• In July the Magic said goodbye to last year’s starting shooting guard DeShawn Stevenson after an agreeable contract couldn’t be reached and brought back one of their previous own, Keith Bogans. “I never wanted to leave in the first place,” said Bogans. “I’m happy to be home.”
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• Another summer activity included some of the Magic players traveling around the globe to participate in Basketball Without Borders. One of those was Pat Garrity.
“My best memory from 2006 would be my trip to China for Basketball Without Borders,” said Garrity. He spent four days in Shanghai, China with other members of the NBA hosting a basketball instructional camp for young people. The camp also promotes friendship, healthy living and education. Bo Outlaw and Arroyo also participated in the Basketball Without Borders program.
• Towards the end of July the Magic resigned free-agent Ariza, which was noted by experts as one of the most underrated moves of the summer.
And those experts seem to be right, as Ariza is certainly giving the Magic dividends on their investment. In the past seven games of the current season, Ariza is averaging 15.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.86 steals per game.
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• Following that amazing start, the injury bug took a small toll on the team and they went 6-10 in December following their early onslaught of 12-4 in November. The bright side? The majority of the team is healthy again, not to mention they ended the year with a 29-point blowout of the defending champions, the Miami Heat. Bring on 2007…
Amanda Norvell is an Communications intern for the Orlando Magic
