Orlando Magic History

Orlando Magic history

2009 NBA Eastern Conference Finals: Superman Trumps King James

Dan Flaherty NBA History Articles, Sports History Articles 2009 NBA Eastern Conference Finals, LeBron James Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA history, NBA playoffs history, Orlando Magic history, sports history

Over the last several years, LeBron James has become the NBA’s signature star, the consensus “greatest player in the world.” In that same timeframe, Dwight Howard has become synonymous with the word “diva”. But it wasn’t always so—in the 2009 NBA Eastern Conference Finals, “Superman”, as Howard modestly dubbed himself, trumped “King James” when Dwight’s Orlando Magic ousted LeBron’s Cleveland Cavaliers.

Shaq Trumps Jordan In The 1995 NBA Playoffs

Dan Flaherty NBA History Articles, Sports History Articles 1995 Bulls Magic, 1995 NBA playoffs, NBA history, NBA playoff history, Orlando Magic history, Shaquille O'Neal Orlando Magic

The Bulls were the 5-seed in the Eastern Conference bracket and beat the Charlotte Hornets in the first round. Orlando, with not only Shaq, but guard Anfernee Hardaway, was seen as the new rising power in the NBA and held the top seed in the East. The Magic knocked out the Boston Celtics in four games—the first round was then a best-of-five—to set up the Shaq vs. MJ battle.