Since their inception almost four decades ago, the Orlando Magic are yet to realize their true wizardry. Runners-up medals in 1995 and 2009 are the closest the team has come to NBA glory.
Ahead of the 2025-2026 NBA season, there are plenty of reasons for optimism. Here are five of them:
1. Recent success
The Magic have made the playoffs the past two seasons, winning the NBA’s Southeast Division each year. While both playoff appearances ended in the first round, that experience will only benefit this young team moving forward.
Fun fact: The last time the Magic made back-to-back playoffs, the following year saw them make a run all the way to the NBA Finals in 2009. That series was dominated by the late, great Kobe Bryant as the Lakers came out on top.
2. Young team coming into its prime
We mentioned the Magic’s young roster. The likes of Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Jalen Suggs are all still relatively young but are entering the phases of their careers where they could break out into genuine stars.
They’re all under 25 — the league should be on notice.
3. Paolo Banchero
In fact, Banchero is already a star. The 2022 ACC Rookie of the Year is going from strength to strength, averaging ~26 points per game last year. It’s no surprise he’s among the names penned for NBA MVP.
And the future looks bright. His imposing 6-foot-10 stature will be in O-Town for a while — he just signed a new contract securing his place on the Magic until at least 2030.
4. A weaker East
The Eastern Conference could be weaker this season due to injuries and key departures:
- Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton is set to miss the entire season due to an Achilles injury he sustained during the most recent NBA Finals.
- It’s also unclear whether the Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum will play this year after suffering the same injury.
- Key players Damian Lillard and Jimmy Butler departed the conference this off-season and are now playing for teams in the West.
These factors could open the door to an easier run to the Finals for the Magic.
5. Desmond Bane addition
While some teams in the East have lost star power, the Magic added it. The team acquired Desmond Bane in a blockbuster trade over the summer, who brings both another much-needed shooting option (especially three-point) and perimeter defense to the lineup.
Expect to hear his name a lot during upcoming games.
How to get involved
The Magic’s preseason features four games, running from Saturday, Oct. 4 to Thursday, Oct. 16. After that, a home game vs. the Miami Heat starts the regular season on Wednesday, Oct. 22.
In our opinion, a night at Kia Center is the best way to be part of the Magic’s quest for a first ring. Imagine: You could say, “I went to multiple games in that championship-winning season.” Grab your tickets.
If you prefer to watch from the couch, you can stream the games at home. Heads up: Games are on different streaming services depending on the day.
Finally, the new uniforms are sleek. Show your O-Town pride by copping one before the first tip-off.
Let’s go, Magic.
