2000–01 Orlando Magic season

2000–01 Orlando Magic season
Head coachDoc Rivers
General managerJohn Gabriel
OwnersRDV Sports, Inc.
ArenaTD Waterhouse Centre
Results
Record4339 (.524)
PlaceDivision: 4th (Atlantic)
Conference: 7th (Eastern)
Playoff finishFirst round
(lost to Bucks 1–3)

Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television

The 2000–01 NBA season was the 12th season for the Orlando Magic in the National Basketball Association. In the 2000 NBA draft, the Magic selected shooting guard Mike Miller from the University of Florida with the fifth overall pick, selected point guard Keyon Dooling from the University of Missouri with the tenth overall pick, and selected shooting guard Courtney Alexander out of Fresno State University with the thirteenth overall pick; however, the team soon traded Dooling to the Los Angeles Clippers, and dealt Alexander to the Dallas Mavericks.

During the off-season, the Magic acquired Tracy McGrady from the Toronto Raptors, and acquired All-Star forward Grant Hill from the Detroit Pistons. The Magic had nearly signed then-free agent All-Star forward Tim Duncan, offering him a six-year contract worth $67.5 million; Duncan led the San Antonio Spurs to their first championship title the year before. However, Duncan would re-sign with the Spurs. Additionally, the Magic also signed free agents Troy Hudson, Dee Brown and Don Reid, and acquired Andrew DeClercq from the Cleveland Cavaliers.

However, Hill re-injured his left ankle from the previous season after only playing just four games, and was out for the remainder of the regular season, as the Magic struggled losing 11 of their first 16 games in November. Meanwhile, Brown only appeared in just seven games due to a left quadricep tendon injury. Despite losing both Hill and Brown, the Magic posted a nine-game winning streak between January and February, held a 25–23 record at the All-Star break, and returned to the NBA playoffs after a one-year absence, finishing in fourth place in the Atlantic Division with a 43–39 record, and earning the #7 seed in the Eastern Conference.

McGrady averaged 26.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks per game, and was named the NBA Most Improved Player of the Year, and was also named to the All-NBA Second Team, and also finished in sixth place in Most Valuable Player voting. In addition, Hill averaged 13.8 points, and 6.3 rebounds and assists per game each during his short four-game stint. McGrady and Hill were both selected for the 2001 NBA All-Star Game in Washington, D.C., although Hill did not participate due to his ankle injury; it was also McGrady's first ever All-Star appearance.

Meanwhile, Darrell Armstrong provided the team with 15.9 points, 7.0 assists and 1.8 steals per game, while Miller contributed 11.9 points per game, led the Magic with 148 three-point field goals, and was named the NBA Rookie of the Year, and was also named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, and Bo Outlaw averaged 7.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.7 blocks per game. Off the bench, Pat Garrity contributed 8.3 points per game, while John Amaechi provided with 7.9 points per game, and Michael Doleac averaged 6.4 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.

However, in the 2001 NBA playoffs, the Magic lost in four games in the Eastern Conference First Round to the Milwaukee Bucks. Following the season, Amaechi signed as a free agent with the Utah Jazz, and Doleac was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

For the season, the Magic changed their primary logo, and slightly changed their uniforms, adding their new alternate logo on the right leg of their shorts. The primary logo remained in use until 2010.